Oklahoma’s Republican Governor Just Dealt an Unexpected Blow to the NRA

“I believe the firearms requirement we currently have in state law are few and reasonable.”

President Donald Trump speaks at the National Rifle Association convention in Dallas, on May 4.Susan Walsh/AP

Fight disinformation: Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily newsletter and follow the news that matters.

Late Friday night, Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin vetoed a bill that would have let adults carry guns without training or a permit, striking a blow to the National Rifle Association in a deeply conservative state.

“Oklahomans believe that law-abiding individuals should be able to defend themselves,” Fallin said in a statement. “I believe the firearms requirement we currently have in state law are few and reasonable.”

The bill would have allowed Oklahomans to carry a handgun without a state-issued permit, like in a dozen other states with “constitutional carry” provisions. The measure drew opposition from businesses and law enforcement officials, who warned that it could threaten public safety.

In her statement Friday, Fallin reiterated her support for the right to bear arms, noting that she had previously signed bills on open and concealed carry. The Republican governor, whose stint in office ends this year, warned that the bill would eliminate “the current ability of Oklahoma law enforcement to distinguish between those carrying guns who have been trained and vetted, and those who have not.”

“I believe the firearms laws we currently have in place are effective, appropriate, and minimal,” she said. 

Chris Cox, executive director for the NRA’s Institute for legislative action, criticized Fallin for vetoing the bill despite her promise to support “constitutional carry” legislation in 2014. “Make no mistake, this temporary setback will be rectified when Oklahoma residents elect a new, and genuinely pro-Second Amendment governor,” Cox said in a statement.

On the same day, Fallin signed a bill that would offer protections for faith-based agencies that refuse to let same-sex couples adopt children because of their religious beliefs. LGBT groups blasted the decision, warning that the measure could open the door to discrimination. At least one group threatened to sue.

WE CAME UP SHORT.

We just wrapped up a shorter-than-normal, urgent-as-ever fundraising drive and we came up about $45,000 short of our $300,000 goal.

That means we're going to have upwards of $350,000, maybe more, to raise in online donations between now and June 30, when our fiscal year ends and we have to get to break-even. And even though there's zero cushion to miss the mark, we won't be all that in your face about our fundraising again until June.

So we urgently need this specific ask, what you're reading right now, to start bringing in more donations than it ever has. The reality, for these next few months and next few years, is that we have to start finding ways to grow our online supporter base in a big way—and we're optimistic we can keep making real headway by being real with you about this.

Because the bottom line: Corporations and powerful people with deep pockets will never sustain the type of journalism Mother Jones exists to do. The only investors who won’t let independent, investigative journalism down are the people who actually care about its future—you.

And we hope you might consider pitching in before moving on to whatever it is you're about to do next. We really need to see if we'll be able to raise more with this real estate on a daily basis than we have been, so we're hoping to see a promising start.

payment methods

WE CAME UP SHORT.

We just wrapped up a shorter-than-normal, urgent-as-ever fundraising drive and we came up about $45,000 short of our $300,000 goal.

That means we're going to have upwards of $350,000, maybe more, to raise in online donations between now and June 30, when our fiscal year ends and we have to get to break-even. And even though there's zero cushion to miss the mark, we won't be all that in your face about our fundraising again until June.

So we urgently need this specific ask, what you're reading right now, to start bringing in more donations than it ever has. The reality, for these next few months and next few years, is that we have to start finding ways to grow our online supporter base in a big way—and we're optimistic we can keep making real headway by being real with you about this.

Because the bottom line: Corporations and powerful people with deep pockets will never sustain the type of journalism Mother Jones exists to do. The only investors who won’t let independent, investigative journalism down are the people who actually care about its future—you.

And we hope you might consider pitching in before moving on to whatever it is you're about to do next. We really need to see if we'll be able to raise more with this real estate on a daily basis than we have been, so we're hoping to see a promising start.

payment methods

We Recommend

Latest

Sign up for our free newsletter

Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

Get our award-winning magazine

Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights.

Subscribe

Support our journalism

Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation.

Donate