Rebecca Yanez (OU)
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (April 16, 2021) – Author of South Eastern’s Senate constitutional carry bill, Senator Sophie Seay introduced this legislation that would give students aged 21 or older the right to carry concealed handguns on campus. Penalties for any institution that goes against this legislation include losing state funding up to twenty five percent. During Seay’s author’s explanation, she explains the necessity of students carrying concealed handguns and the danger that unarmed students are in.
“The average response time of local law enforcement is 18 minutes,” Seay said. “Everyday students that are not allowed to conceal carry, their lives are put in campus police hands. Students need to be able to conceal carry to protect themselves against active students on campus.”
University of Oklahoma delegate, Senator Tessla Brewer, expressed concerns for survivors of gun violence and briefly gave a personal anecdote to further push her point.
“I understand the fear that comes with active shooter situations, I myself had one happen while in highschool,” Brewer said. “ Do you have any concerns for students who are traumatised by active shootings that could have happened in highschool, have PTSD, and could get triggered by seeing guns on campus?”
Seay responded with her condolences and explained that she does not want to force anyone to conceal carry, but rather, give people the freedom of choice.
In caucuses, senators argued that the bill is dillatory because there is already a state statute banning concealed carry. Pres. Pro Morrison clarified that the bill is not dillatory, as long as it doesn’t violate the Oklahoma constitution.
“You shouldn’t have to go through the President of your university to exercise your right,” Seay said during the caucusing period.
Other concerns included accidental shootings, carrying under the influence, and racial profiling.
“There is nothing in this bill specifically about that (racial profiling),” Seay said. “ I don’t believe this has a place in my bill but I do believe a police officer who does that should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
The bill was later moved to the linguistics committee to be amended and was later heard again on the floor and failed 7-10-4.
Seay has declined to make further comments when asked.