National gun rights advocate speaks in Tulsa

TULSA - A national figure in the gun control debate visited Tulsa on Wednesday.

Larry Pratt is a gun rights advocate and president of the group Gun Owners of America.

Pratt spoke to the Tulsa County Republican men's club at their monthly luncheon at the Stokely Event Center.

Pratt says he visited Oklahoma to hear from activists and to encourage legislators to pass several pieces of gun rights legislation, including a bill allowing teachers to carry guns in the classroom, and another challenging the authority of the federal government to regulate guns in the state.

"We'd like to see Oklahoma get these bills on the governor's desk and signed and that'll be an encouragement to other states," said Pratt.

Pratt also presented Wagoner County Sheriff Bob Colbert with an award.

Colbert recently said should the president sign an executive order removing guns from citizens, he would not enforce the order.

"We took an oath to protect your rights and that's what we're going to do," Colbert told the crowd.

The bill allowing districts to determine whether teachers and other staff would be allowed to carry guns passed the state House late Tuesday night.

Legislation challenging federal authority to regulate guns in Oklahoma passed the state House Wednesday.

Both bills now go to the state Senate for consideration.