OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – An argument over gun-carry legal guidelines on the opening live performance for Oklahoma Metropolis’s Scissortail Park two years in the past has led to a state regulation change with a purpose to create gun-free zones.
Earlier this month, Governor Stitt signed a invoice into regulation that OKC metropolis officers say may preserve weapons out and convey large concert events again into metropolis parks.
“It was fairly apparent as we talked to live performance promoters and folks acquainted with that business that that was not prone to ever occur once more,” mentioned OKC Mayor David Holt.
Holt is referring to the Scissortail Park Kickoff live performance again in 2019. The Kings of Leon performed, however that was not normal for them or different large acts.
Holt says most performers have language of their contracts demanding to play in venues with out firearms.
“Underneath our state regulation, you can’t prohibit weapons at a metropolis park,” mentioned Holt.
So Oklahoma Metropolis received with gun rights advocates and state legislators to assist draft HB 2645. It permits for gun-free zones for occasions, so long as organizers put up 8-foot fences and have walk-through metallic detectors operated by commissioned law enforcement officials.
“That is frequent sense laws that clarifies what the cities should do with a purpose to have a gun free occasion and it places up parameters to be sure that everybody at that occasion is secure,” mentioned Rep. Jon Echols.
The Home Majority Chief from OKC helped write what he calls a compromise regulation. Gun rights advocates are comfortable the laws defines once-vague guidelines for parks.
“In the event that they increase the peak of the fence, they put stroll via metallic detectors operated by commissioned peace officers, yeah they will cease weapons going into that occasion. For all the opposite many, many occasions an individual’s Second Modification rights are being secured, ensuring they will carry a hid handgun into that occasion,” mentioned Don Spencer, President of the Oklahoma 2nd Modification Affiliation.
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Metropolis officers say live performance goers are already used to the safety measures.
“We principally put Scissortail Park on a fair footing with Chesapeake Enviornment and different typical live performance venues, in order that we are able to do the kind of factor that we did with Kings of Leon once more sometime,” mentioned Holt.
“I feel it’s a kind of frequent sense items of laws that’s going to prove nice for the town,” mentioned Echols.
Holt says there are not any large occasions scheduled for Scissortail Park proper now as a result of they couldn’t even start to have talks with large acts earlier than the laws was handed.
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