By Jose Sanchez, Santa Fe South High School
Even after mass shootings have occurred around the nation, and in the state itself, Oklahoma’s legislature has failed to pass meaningful gun reform.
As other states such as New York and California work to increase restrictions on firearms, Oklahoma is legislating in the opposite direction. As of 2019, anyone who wants to own a firearm in the state can buy one from a private seller without a permit or background check.
In May 2020, Oklahoma also became the first and only state to implement an anti-red flag law. This law prevents any city or county from implementing red flag laws, which
“permit police or family members to temporarily remove firearms from at-risk people who may present a violent threat to themselves or others,” according to the Oklahoma Senate.
Oklahoma conservatives and gun right activists have expressed anger toward gun reform and are working with lawmakers to prevent further action.
“We’ve been called terrorists, we’ve been called all kinds of things in how this is being stretched. Which is why it’s so important, not only that we have anti-red flag laws, (but) we need to remove and repeal these efforts,” said Don Spencer, the president of the Oklahoma Second Amendment Association, at a meeting posted to Facebook in June.
Despite what conservatives like Spencer say, when The Oklahoman analyzed medical examiner data, they found the average number of monthly gun deaths rose nearly 20% when compared to the 10 years before permitless carry was implemented in the state. To compare, New York’s laws are stricter regarding firearms. According to U.S. Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) all sellers, private or otherwise, have to conduct a background check before the transaction is complete. Although there is no specific waiting period for the purchase of a firearm in New York, all purchasers of hand guns must obtain a New York Pistol License or permit, and this paperwork may take up to 6 months. While in Oklahoma, to get a background check from a federally licensed dealer will take about 30 days.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, New York has one of the lowest firearm mortality rates in the United States. CDC data for 2020 shows New York had 1,052 gun deaths compared to their 19.5 million person population. This equals roughly 5 deaths per 100,000 people. In contrast, Oklahoma’s death rate was nearly four times that amount, with 826 gun deaths and a population of 3.9 million. The equivalent of 9.0 deaths (per100,000), currently Oklahoma sits at 12 in the country with most firearm related deaths.
However, private Oklahoman firearm part seller Justin Woods believes the CDC shouldn’t be studying these issues at all.
“Gun violence is not a disease, so why are we spending millions and millions of dollars of our tax’s studying something that’s not a disease?” he said.
