Oklahoma open carry laws, please help!

M

Maverick7340

New member
I have read the Oklahoma gun laws and see that it is lawful to open carry except at some places.
The law for carrying a gun in a car says it has to be unloaded and open. Does this mean I can carry it loaded except in my car I have to unload it and put it in the open and it can't be loaded in a holster on me?

"Any person, except a convicted felon, may transport in a motor vehicle a rifle, shotgun or pistol, open and unloaded, at any time. For purposes of this section "open" means the firearm is transported in plain view, in a case designed for carrying firearms, which case is wholly or partially visible, in a gun rack mounted in the vehicle, in an exterior locked compartment or a trunk of a vehicle."
 
Maverick,

I live in Oklahoma and to my knowledge it is forbidden to open carry except when hunting. As for travelling with a firearm in a vehicle, if you don't have a CCW then you need to have the gun unloaded and seperated from any ammo you have in the vehicle. There is no safe passage law in Oklahoma, so as a cop friend of mine put it, the gun basically needs to be kept three steps away from firing (1. retrieve ammo and gun, 2. load gun, 3. cock it, 4. fire).

As Kelly J said, I would check with law enforcement to be sure. The sheriff's office should be able to help you out.
 
It is not illegal to open carry:

A. A person shall be permitted to carry loaded and unloaded shotguns, rifles and pistols, open and not concealed and without a handgun license as authorized by the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act, Sections 1 through 25 of this act, pursuant to the following conditions:

1. When hunting animals or fowl;

2. During competition in or practicing in a safety or hunter safety class, target shooting, skeet, trap or other recognized sporting events;

3. During participation in or in preparation for a military function of the state military forces to be defined as the Oklahoma Army or Air National Guard, Federal Military Reserve and active military forces;

4. During participation in or in preparation for a recognized police function of either a municipal, county or state government as functioning police officials;

5. During a practice for or a performance for entertainment purposes; or

6. For any legitimate purpose not in violation of the Oklahoma Firearms Act of 1971, Sections 1289.1 through 1289.17 of this title or any legislative enactment regarding the use, ownership and control of firearms

Number 6 seems to make it ok for any legitimate purpose but do they mean that self protection is a legitimate reason?
 
Maverick,

Unfortunetly if you read section 1272 of title 21 it lists all the weapons (including all firearms) that are not allowed to be carried concealed or unconcealed unless you are:
1. Hunting, fishing, training or doing something recreational
2. Using the weapons in a way otherwise permitted by the Oklahoma Self Defense Act
3. A cop
4. Are participating in a living history reenactment
I think number two is the catch all, that basically says you can't pack a gun for self defense unless you give the state their money and get your concealed carry permit. I'm guessing this was enacted sometime after the Oklahoma Firearms Act of 1971, which effectively neuters item 6 that you mentioned.

Penalties for violating 1272 are covered in section 1276. The first time convicted of the misdemeanor charge you face a $100 - $250 fine and / or jail time not to exceed 30 days. Everytime you get caught after that the fine is $250 - $500 and / or 30 days to 3 months in jail.

By the way, I'd never actually read the law until tonight, so thanks for inspiring me. I must say, I like your version better. You ought to make a run for Senate.
 
I think I get it now and you are right. When they say carry they don't mean in a holster and open. They mean carry as in the proper container.
I guess they don't want to scare the public by having someone walking around with a gun for everyone to see.
That just might be better because the guy with the gun will be the first one that gets shot. If they don't know you have a gun then that is in your favor.
Thanks for helping me clear this up.
Now I guess I need to figure out a way to talk my wife into letting me spend around $200 to get a CCW permit. So far she doesn't see a need for it. She wants the guns (she has one too) to stay at home.
 
I keep telling myself I'm going to get a permit, but then I end up putting the money towards more guns and ammo. Maybe next month...
I don't know how it is where you're at, but here in Altus I know it takes a month or three for them to actually send you the permit after you submit the paperwork - just a heads up.
 
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