Open carry bill passes committee, on to House floor

TULSA - An open carry bill is gaining momentum at the Capitol. House Bill 2522 passed a House committee today and is now on to the House floor.

The bill would allow for Oklahomans to carry a weapon in full public view, but you must still have a concealed carry license.

Tulsa County Sheriff's Deputy Dan Ruskowski deals with guns every day.

He has even lived in a state where people carry firearms right out in the open.

"In Alaska, when they carried it open, I felt safer. Criminals didn't carry the gun in the open, only the honest people did," Ruskowski said.

But for someone like Ruskowski, who encounters armed residents, seeing a gun will not change how he operates.

"There's no law enforcement reason to check everyone, unless they were doing something to draw my attention to them other than that," he said.

With this bill a business still has the right to say you cannot have a gun on their property.

Nor are guns allowed in federal buildings, banks, airports, schools, and businesses that's primary sales are alcohol.

"The fact that Oklahoma has waited until 39 other states have had it, than it kind of sounds to me like it's about time," said Eric Fuson, owner of the 2A Shooting Center in Tulsa.

Former Governor Brad Henry vetoed a similar bill two years ago, but Gov. Mary Fallin is in support of an open carry bill.