Weekly Opinion Editorial
AN ANTI- RED
FLAG LAW!
by Steve Fair
Before the Oklahoma legislature adjourned
on Friday, they passed Senate Bill #1081, an anti ‘Red Flag’ bill. Authored by Sen. Nathan Dahm, (R-Tulsa) and
Rep. Jay Steagall, (R-Yukon), the bill was signed into law by Governor Kevin
Stitt on Saturday The new law prevents Oklahoma cities and
towns from enacting policies that would allow a court or other entity to
restrict gun access to people who they deem to be an imminent danger. The bill passed the House 77-14 and the
Senate 34-9. “This bill would stop any
action from the federal government or even from local or state authorities that
would infringe on the Second Amendment rights of our citizens,” Steagall
said. The bill is said to be the first of
its type in the nation. Critics of the
bill said it was unnecessary because Oklahoma municipalities are already
prevented from engaging in gun control. Two
thoughts:
First, gun control is a fundamental plank
in the Democrat platform. Their platform
states: We recognize that the individual
right to bear arms is an important part of the American tradition, and we will
preserve Americans' Second Amendment right to own and use firearms. We believe
that the right to own firearms is subject to reasonable regulation. Their ‘reasonable
regulation’ includes banning of assault rifles and more background checks. So much for not infringing. The Republican Party platform states: We
believe the 2nd Amendment and all the rights guaranteed by it should enable
law-abiding citizens throughout the country to own firearms in their homes for
self-defense. Perhaps there is not
an issue where the two major Parties differ than on the Second Amendment. Joe
Biden, the presumptive Democrat nominee says he would push to have gun
manufacturers held accountable when one of their guns is used in a mass
shooting. No word on whether he would
hold knife manufacturers to the same standard.
Clearly the second amendment is under
attack across the country. It is sad to
say but in conservative Oklahoma, there are mayors and city councils who would attempt
to implement gun control if they could.
We have seen several examples of ‘heavy handed’ mayors overstepping
their bounds by restricting liberty of their citizens above and beyond the
recommended guidelines of the CDC during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Second, many Americans don’t understand the Second Amendment. It wasn’t placed in the U.S. Constitution for
hunters. It was placed there to allow
the citizens of the United States to own firearms for self-defense and to
insure the security of a free state. Some believe only the military should have
guns, but the Second amendment specifically intended to allow everyday citizens
the ability to protect themselves and their country. We as citizens are guardians
of the Second Amendment. No one should be neutral on the Second amendment. It is our duty to uphold it. The Second amendment protects the rest of the
Bill of Rights. Younger Americans need
to understand the importance of the Second amendment.
Voters need to recognize the
importance of the November elections. If
Democrats gain control of the Senate and win the White House, ‘Red Flag’ laws
will be enacted. The Second amendment
will be under attack. The problem with Red
Flag laws is who determines who presents imminent danger? Is an imminent danger someone that disagrees
with their post on Facebook? Is it
someone who goes to church three times a week?
What are the red flag triggers? Red
Flag laws clearly violate due process, a guaranteed constitutional right. Thanks to Governor Stitt, Senator Dahm, and Representative
Steagall for proactively addressing the issue.
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