Communications & Public Affairs
February 27, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Wes Carter, Press Secretary
Oklahoma House Democratic Caucus
Phone: (405) 962-7674

Leader Virgin Releases Statement on Permitless Carry

OKLAHOMA CITY – House Minority Leader Emily Virgin (D-Norman) released the following statement after Gov. Kevin Stitt signed permitless carry legislation into law today.

“It is disappointing that this issue is clearly the top priority for the Republicans at 23rd & Lincoln given that it’s the first and only bill that has been fast-tracked through the legislative process and signed by the Governor,” Virgin said. “We’re facing many issues as a state, but access to firearms isn’t one of them. We have schools falling apart, teachers leaving and rural hospitals closing. It seems out of touch that Oklahoma’s government has spent so much time on this dangerous and reckless legislation. I hope next week we can finally start talking about how to expand Medicaid and get more money into Oklahoma’s public school classrooms.”

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Supplemental Information from Everytown.org:

2003 Alaska adopted permit less carry by 2017 their rates of assault with a firearm increased by 82%.
2010 Arizona adopted permit less carry by 2017 their rates of assault with a firearm increased by 39%.
2017 Missouri adopted permit less carry and St. Louis saw a 25% increase in assault with a firearm compared to 2016.
88% of Americans think you should get a permit before carrying a handgun in public.