Oklahoma lawmakers approve bill allowing adults to carry guns without a permit

Oklahoma state lawmakers on Wednesday approved a bill that would allow adults to carry guns without a permit after it was vetoed by the state’s former Republican governor.

The Republican-led state House voted in favor of the “constitutional carry” bill in a 70-30 vote, according to the Associated Press.

The proposed policy, also known as “permitless carry,” allows Oklahoma residents over the age of 21, or 18 with a military background, to carry a gun without any training or a license.

{mosads}Lawmakers in the state’s House and Senate approved similar legislation last year, but it was vetoed by then-Gov. Mary Fallin (R).

At the time, Fallin argued that the bill, which was backed by the National Rifle Association, would hurt law enforcement officers’ ability to distinguish between people who have been trained to use firearms and those who have not.

“I believe the firearms laws we currently have in place are effective, appropriate and minimal,” she said in May.

Newly-elected Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) is expected to sign constitutional carry legislation, according to the report. A similar bill has been introduced in the Senate, but the House bill places some restrictions on where guns can be carried, according to local station News9.