Mary Fallin vetoed a bill late Friday that would have authorized adults to carry firearms without a permit or training, dealing a rare defeat to the National Rifle Association in a conservative state. The veto comes after opposition from the business community and law enforcement authorities, including top officials with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation who have said it could erode public safety. The NRA had supported the bill’s passage and had urged Fallin to sign it. But she added that the bill would have eliminated the requirement for a training course and reduced the level of background checks to carry a gun. The hot-button issue of gun rights energizes Republican voters, particularly those in Republican primaries, said Trebor Worthen, a Republican political strategist.

Source: National Post May 11, 2018 23:12 UTC