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Oklahoma lawmaker wants to lower age to legally carry firearms

Republican State Rep. Jim Olsen wants to change the age from 21 to 18-years-old

Oklahoma lawmaker wants to lower age to legally carry firearms

Republican State Rep. Jim Olsen wants to change the age from 21 to 18-years-old

LAWMAKERS. YEAH, GUYS. THAT’S RIGHT. DEMOCRATS I SPOKE WITH SAY THAT. LOWERING THE GUN AGE FOR OKLAHOMANS SHOULD NOT BE A PRIORITY FOR THIS UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION. MEANWHILE, THE AUTHOR BELIEVES THAT 18 IS OLD ENOUGH. PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE THE FREEDOM TO EXERCISE THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. AT 18, REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE JIM OLSEN AUTHORED A HOUSE BILL 1001. IT WOULD CHANGE THE AGE RESTRICTIONS FOR 18 YEAR OLDS BUYING A GUN. THE BILL WOULD ALSO AMEND THE AGE REQUIRED TO CARRY FIREARMS. OLSEN 18 YEAR OLDS ARE OLD ENOUGH TO START A FAMILY, BUY A HOME AND VOTE. THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO BUY GUNS. SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO BE EXERCISED AS WELL. YOU SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO PROTECT YOUR SPOUSE AND YOUR CHILDREN IF NECESSARY, UNDER CURRENT LAW. 18 YEAR OLDS IN OKLAHOMA CAN PURCHASE A GUN, SHOTGUN OR RIFLE BUT CANNOT PURCHASE A HANDGUN. ANYONE UNDER 21 CANNOT CARRY A LOADED GUN. WITH EXCEPTIONS FOR MILITARY OR HUNTING. I THINK 21 IS YOUNG ENOUGH WITHOUT, PROPER TRAINING OR ANY TYPE OF BACKGROUND. DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE MICKEY DOLAN SAYS THE WAY THE STATE’S CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY LAWS ARE SET UP, HE DOESN’T WITH LETTING YOUNGER OKLAHOMANS PURCHASE. THE THING ABOUT CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY IN OKLAHOMA IS IT DOESN’T REQUIRE ANY PERMIT BACKGROUND CHECK OR TRAINING. IF 18 YEAR OLD HAD PROPER TRAINING AND A BACKGROUND CHECK, I’D BE MORE OPEN THE IDEA. OTHERWISE I’M A NO ON THIS MINORITY LEADER REP CINDY MUNSON ALSO RELEASING A SAYING, QUOTE, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVEN MASS SHOOTINGS IN OKLAHOMA AND SINCE MAY 29TH, 2022. SO I’M DISAPPOINTED. HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE PRIORITIZED EXPANDING ACCESS TO GUNS AHEAD OF THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION. WE KNOW GUNS IN THE HANDS OF UNTRAINED ONLINE FANS. YOUNG PEOPLE WILL NOT MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFER. AND THIS BILL WAS FILED WITH AN EMERGENCY PRIORITY. THAT MEANS THAT IF IT’S PASSED, IT WILL GO INTO IMMEDIATEL
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Oklahoma lawmaker wants to lower age to legally carry firearms

Republican State Rep. Jim Olsen wants to change the age from 21 to 18-years-old

An Oklahoma lawmaker wants to lower the age to legally carry firearms.Republican State Rep. Jim Olsen wants to change the age from 21 to 18 years old. It is already getting pushback from Democratic lawmakers.| MORE | Proposed Oklahoma bill looks to lower age to legally carry firearmsDemocrats said expanding gun access to young ages should not be a priority in this upcoming legislative session. Meanwhile, the author of the bill said 18 is old enough for a gun."People should have the freedom to exercise their constitutional rights at 18," Olsen said.Olsen authored House Bill 1001. It would change the age restrictions for 18-year-olds to buy a gun.The bill would also amend the age requirements to carry firearms. Olsen said 18-year-olds are old enough to start a family, buy a home and vote, so they should be able to buy a gun."Second Amendment rights should be exercised as well. You should have the ability to protect your spouse and family if necessary," Olsen said.Currently, 18-year-olds in Oklahoma can purchase a long shotgun or rifle but cannot purchase a handgun. Anyone under 21 cannot carry a loaded gun with exceptions for military service or hunting. "I think 21 is young enough without proper training or background check," Democratic state Rep. Mickey Dollens said.Dollens said the way the state’s constitutional carry laws are set up, he doesn’t agree with letting younger Oklahomans purchase."The thing about constitutional carry in Oklahoma is it doesn’t require any permit, background check, or training. If an 18-year-old had proper training and a background check, I would be more open to the idea. Otherwise, I’m a no on this," Dollens said.Minority leader Rep. Cyndi Munson also released a statement."There have been seven mass shootings in Oklahoma since May 29, 2022, so I am disappointed House Republicans have prioritized expanding access to guns ahead of the next legislative session. We know putting guns in the hands of untrained, unlicensed young people will not make our communities safer," Munson said. The bill has been filed as an emergency priority, meaning that if passed, it would go into effect immediately. The next legislative session begins in February.

An Oklahoma lawmaker wants to lower the age to legally carry firearms.

Republican State Rep. Jim Olsen wants to change the age from 21 to 18 years old. It is already getting pushback from Democratic lawmakers.

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| MORE | Proposed Oklahoma bill looks to lower age to legally carry firearms

Democrats said expanding gun access to young ages should not be a priority in this upcoming legislative session. Meanwhile, the author of the bill said 18 is old enough for a gun.

"People should have the freedom to exercise their constitutional rights at 18," Olsen said.

Olsen authored House Bill 1001. It would change the age restrictions for 18-year-olds to buy a gun.

The bill would also amend the age requirements to carry firearms. Olsen said 18-year-olds are old enough to start a family, buy a home and vote, so they should be able to buy a gun.

"Second Amendment rights should be exercised as well. You should have the ability to protect your spouse and family if necessary," Olsen said.

Currently, 18-year-olds in Oklahoma can purchase a long shotgun or rifle but cannot purchase a handgun. Anyone under 21 cannot carry a loaded gun with exceptions for military service or hunting.

"I think 21 is young enough without proper training or background check," Democratic state Rep. Mickey Dollens said.

Dollens said the way the state’s constitutional carry laws are set up, he doesn’t agree with letting younger Oklahomans purchase.

"The thing about constitutional carry in Oklahoma is it doesn’t require any permit, background check, or training. If an 18-year-old had proper training and a background check, I would be more open to the idea. Otherwise, I’m a no on this," Dollens said.

Minority leader Rep. Cyndi Munson also released a statement.

"There have been seven mass shootings in Oklahoma since May 29, 2022, so I am disappointed House Republicans have prioritized expanding access to guns ahead of the next legislative session. We know putting guns in the hands of untrained, unlicensed young people will not make our communities safer," Munson said.

The bill has been filed as an emergency priority, meaning that if passed, it would go into effect immediately. The next legislative session begins in February.