Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Concealed Carry topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Wagoner council hears hours of testimony on proposed concealed-carry ordinance, takes no action
Summary
Council discussion over Ordinance 9-84 — to allow concealed carry by elected officials who hold a valid Oklahoma handgun license — drew hours of testimony from gun-rights advocates, law-enforcement officials and residents. Council voted to take no action and form a committee to draft training and clarity for any future ordinance.
Wagoner city councilors on Aug. 4 heard extended public testimony and debate about Ordinance No. 9-84, which would amend city code to allow elected officials who possess a valid handgun license under the Oklahoma Self Defense Act to carry concealed handguns in city-owned buildings except specified court and detention facilities.
Don Spencer, who identified himself as president of the Oklahoma Second Amendment Association, urged adoption and said similar policies exist for county officials across the state. He told the council the measure could be expanded later and offered legislative support and free signage indicating where officials or employees carry.
Speakers who identified themselves as law-enforcement personnel urged caution. Assistant Police Chief Tony Ponds described the close quarters of council chambers and warned carrying by many people in that room could increase risk to officers and the public. Several council members and residents proposed requiring approved training, regular qualification and limits on who may carry inside city facilities.
Travis Mitchell, who spoke as a resident and firearms instructor, urged the council to require a city-approved training course in addition to state concealed-carry qualifications. Other speakers asked whether the ordinance could require yearly qualification and whether mental-health screening could lawfully be imposed.
Council discussion focused on reconciling state law, local safety, training expectations and enforcement. Legal counsel and several attendees noted that the ordinance as first drafted lacked an explicit requirement that an elected official hold a state handgun license; council members amended the reading during debate. After discussion, the council voted to take no action on Ordinance 9-84 at this meeting and directed staff and a committee to work on drafting specific training and qualification language for future consideration.
Next steps: councilors said they will form a committee with law-enforcement and legal input to draft specific training, qualification and signage provisions before returning any ordinance for a vote.
