Journalist: Heidi Hampton (TU)
OBU-002 “Safe Purchase Act” authored by Senators Dent and Dowby, is a bill heard in the Senate relating to purchasing of a firearm. The bill outlines provisions that will enforce universal background checks before purchasing of a firearm as well as safety certificates that must be maintained during the period of owning the firearm. The safety certificates are said to be renewed every five years. The bill also outlines new rules for transferring ownership of firearms. The bill states private firearm transfers must be done through an authorized dealer so the required background check can be performed. There are exceptions including transfers between immediate family members, temporary transfers, and transfers to law enforcement or military officers who are acting within the scope of their duties. “Safe Purchase Act” defines penalties for unlawful transfers of firearms as well as for providing false information in order to secure a safety certification. The punishment for both offenses is the same. They are both defined as misdemeanors and are punishable by a fine of up to but not exceeding five hundred dollars, imprisonment in a county jail for up to but not exceeding one year or both. OBU-002 claims the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation shall be responsible for the implementation and enforcement of this act. The OSBI will be responsible for making the rules known to the public. The funding for this act will be obtained through four means. The first two means are fees collected from safety certifications, applications and renewals, and the second means of funding is through legislative appropriations. The third and final way to fund this act is through federal grants. The authors state the fees collected shall be deposited into a revolving fund. The fund will be used for the administration and enforcement of the act. The act did not pass the Senate.