Capitol Carry Bill Advances Via House Public Safety Committee

  Former Adair County Sheriff, David Hardin, successfully advanced a 'dead bill' by working with Rep. Danny Sterling, & gutting another bill in the House Public Safety Committee and inserting the capitol language. 
 We spoke with Rep. Hardin yesterday, about the substance of the measure. He indicated that lawmakers and retired certified law enforcement should have their 2nd Amendment rights in the seat of govt. While the bill only addresses some of those who enter the capitol, the effort to lay aside the fears that have been created by the gun bans which have become so prevalent in recent decades.
​ Rep. Hardin adds that those with valid OSBI licenses to carry are also given privileges.
 The leadership of OK2A has signaled reservation about this bill because it appears to create an elitist upper tier of citizenship rights. rep. Hardin said he acknowledges that optic, but says the larger goal is to restore all constitutional rights to everyone. He believes fear is what leads the pressure to curtail freedoms and even constitutional rights. Addressing that fear may sometimes be done more successfully by creating a progressive and incremental plan.
  The bill also authorizes the retired law enforcement and lawmakers to carry concealed firearms in all other state govt. buildings.
  After passage of this bill, the chairman followed up with a similar bill, HB2901. That bill applies only to lawmakers authorization to carry firearms in the State Capitol building.

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