acptulsa
04-26-2011, 10:00 AM
Oklahoma House of Representatives
Media Division
April 15, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: State Rep. Steve Vaughan Contact: State Rep. Mike
Ritze
Capitol: (405) 557-7355 Capitol: (405)
557-7338
Lawmakers Praise Governor for Signing Gun Rights Law
OKLAHOMA CITY - State Reps. Steve Vaughan and Mike Ritze today praised
Gov. Mary Fallin for signing legislation that strengthens Oklahomans'
Second Amendment rights.
"I greatly appreciate Governor Fallin for standing up for the
self-defense rights of law-abiding citizens," said Vaughan, R-Ponca City.
"Unfortunately, current law did not make clear that business employees can
defend themselves with lethal force when their lives were threatened. Now,
those workers will not have to fear jail time if they shoot a robber."
This week, Fallin signed into law House Bill 1439, by Vaughan and
co-authored by Ritze. The bill expands the right to use deadly force to
business employees who have reason to fear death or great bodily harm.
Previously, state law allowed individuals to use deadly force only in
their homes; HB 1449 expands that right to include their place of
business.
"We've all seen news reports where a clerk or small business owner was
brutally assaulted," said Ritze, R-Broken Arrow. "Those citizens should
have the right to self-defense without having to second-guess themselves
or fear prosecution."
The new law will go into effect Nov. 1.
Media Division
April 15, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: State Rep. Steve Vaughan Contact: State Rep. Mike
Ritze
Capitol: (405) 557-7355 Capitol: (405)
557-7338
Lawmakers Praise Governor for Signing Gun Rights Law
OKLAHOMA CITY - State Reps. Steve Vaughan and Mike Ritze today praised
Gov. Mary Fallin for signing legislation that strengthens Oklahomans'
Second Amendment rights.
"I greatly appreciate Governor Fallin for standing up for the
self-defense rights of law-abiding citizens," said Vaughan, R-Ponca City.
"Unfortunately, current law did not make clear that business employees can
defend themselves with lethal force when their lives were threatened. Now,
those workers will not have to fear jail time if they shoot a robber."
This week, Fallin signed into law House Bill 1439, by Vaughan and
co-authored by Ritze. The bill expands the right to use deadly force to
business employees who have reason to fear death or great bodily harm.
Previously, state law allowed individuals to use deadly force only in
their homes; HB 1449 expands that right to include their place of
business.
"We've all seen news reports where a clerk or small business owner was
brutally assaulted," said Ritze, R-Broken Arrow. "Those citizens should
have the right to self-defense without having to second-guess themselves
or fear prosecution."
The new law will go into effect Nov. 1.