Latest news with #CarriHicks
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Senate advances gun bill that could expand gun rights for Oklahoma municipal employees
Sen. Christi Gillespie, R-Broken Arrow, looks at her computer screen during Senate proceedings on Monday, May 5, 2025. (Photo by Janelle Stecklein/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate on Tuesday advanced a bill that would permit cities to allow employees and elected officials to carry concealed firearms inside municipal buildings despite concerns it could increase gun violence. House Bill 1095 would give local officials to decide if they want their employees to have the option of allowing concealed firearms, said Sen. Christi Gillespie, R-Broken Arrow, the Senate author. She said county employees have been allowed the same right since 2017, and there hasn't been an incident. Gillespie said it is a right, not a privilege, to carry firearms. 'Bad guys don't ask for permission,' Gillespie said. 'So, it is making people that choose to carry more safe.' But Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, questioned what evidence there is that such a move would make those facilities safer as opposed to more volatile. Hicks said the measure may impact the comfort of constituents, including children, survivors of violence and those with trauma, who may feel intimidated or unsafe interacting with armed government personnel. She said the bill prioritizes political ideology over public safety. 'In doing so, it sends a message that we are more concerned about expanding access to firearms than preserving trust in our public institutions,' Hicks said. 'The unintended consequences of this bill are real and irreversible.' Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, said that last year, 458 people were killed in their workplace by guns. The vast majority of those were employees killing fellow workers, Kirt said. She said the measure exposes citizens to more workplace violence and dangerous environments. Sen. Michael Brooks, D-Oklahoma City, said studies indicate that having firearms in a building, often with people who are not trained, increased the risk of suicide and homicide. 'Impusive actions, when there are firearms in a building, tend to have more fatal consequences,' Brooks said. Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, who supported the measure, said it was a local control issue. 'It was Benjamin Franklin who said that those who would sacrifice necessary freedom for temporary security deserve neither,' Bullard said. Sen. Shane Jett, R-Shawnee, said every individual 'has a moral right to defend themselves.' 'When seconds count, police police are minutes away. Vote for freedom,' he said. The bill passed by a vote of 39-8 and returns to the House for consideration. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democrats file resolutions to halt state social studies standards
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Democratic lawmakers at the State Capitol filed joint resolutions on Monday in both the House and Senate in an effort to stop the proposed social study standers for Oklahoma classrooms. The controversial standards were approved by the State Board of Education in February but had been tweaked before being handed over to legislators. 'Close to 100 changes,' said Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City. 'I mean, that's a deep concern.' Republican lawmakers in the House heard from State Superintendent Ryan Walters Monday afternoon during a closed-door meeting with the House Republican Caucus for nearly an hour. 'I feel very confident moving forward,' said Walters. The 400-plus page standards were given to lawmakers who must approve, reject, or amend the curriculum within 30 legislative days. 'We're going to review what they worked on,' said Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle. Most comments submitted opposed to OSBE Social Studies standards Many Democrats said Monday they were unsure exactly when the documents were handed over to lawmakers, but said the resolutions could be heard on each floor quickly since they were running out of time. With the joint resolutions, Democrats asked to send the standards back to the Board of Education for review. 'We've never seen this level of politics injected into public education that we've seen in the last two years and the slow and methodical approach where everyone has their questions answered and parents feel comfortable is critical,' said Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa. The proposed standards emphasize the Bible, discredited theories about the 2020 election, and the origin of the COVID pandemic. 'Our kids need to look at it and be able to critically think about what happened in 2020. They need to know about where COVID started. They know about the way COVID impacted our elections and that entire cycle,' said Walters. 'So we absolutely stand by it.' Last July, Walters announced he had put together an 'A-list executive review committee', which included PragerU's founder, to 'overhaul' the social studies standards. Democrats questioned the motive behind that move. 'Only three of folks or three out of the 10 have ever even lived in Oklahoma,' said Hicks. 'It begs the question, do these folks have the people of Oklahoma's best interest in mind?' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
