The Norman Transcript

Headlines

Discussion

October 30, 2012

Good turnout at forum

By Jessica Bruha The Norman Transcript

NORMAN — Open carry law begins Thursday

The City Council Chambers filled up Monday night for the open carry forum hosted by the Norman Police Department.

The purpose of the forum was to inform individuals about the new law that goes into effect Thursday and answer residents’ questions.

Officer John Barbour presented information to attendees before a question-and-answer session began. Barbour talked about the police department’s training plan and how dispatch and police officers will respond to calls about the new law.

Many officers have already gone through training regarding the new law and those who haven’t soon will, he said. In addition, the training will be added to future academy curriculum.

Dispatch, which handles a majority of the calls going into the police department, are being trained to ask a series of questions to determine whether the situation requires officers’ immediate attention. Dispatchers also will inform callers about the new law if time allows.

Police officers will respond based on the information that is provided to them by dispatch. Officers will not ask people for their open carry licenses unless there is suspicious activity, Barbour said.

He said they do not anticipate any wide-spread problems with the new law.

“It is not a new concept,” Barbour said, regarding the other 24 states with similar laws. “I don’t think it will change a lot of what we do now.”

The open carry law is an amended version of the Self Defense Act, except the “concealed carry” part is taken out. Instead of a permit, a license is required, Barbour said.

The law prohibits carrying guns at public meetings, jails, schools, sporting events, race tracks and bars. Restaurants where the primary source of income is food, and not alcohol, are OK unless signs banning guns are posted. If someone enters a business where a “no weapons” sign is posted, they can be refused service and asked to leave.

For local news and more, subscribe to The Norman Transcript Smart Edition, or our print edition.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Headlines
  • BikeToWorkDay Norman cyclists take the path less traveled to work

    Rain, shine or fog, Norman bicyclists show up every year, and have been showing up every year for eight years, for the city’s annual Bike to Work event. Despite drizzle and fog Friday morning, this year was no exception. “Norman has one ...

    May 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • Fallin urges last-minute health care fix

    OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Mary Fallin proposed a last-minute legislative change Friday to the state’s Insure Oklahoma program that would direct $50 million in state tobacco taxes to pay for more than 9,000 people who are expected to lose their ...

    May 18, 2013

  • OU student allegedly changed his grades and faculty members’ passcodes

    Charges were filed against a University of Oklahoma student Thursday after the student allegedly changed faculty members’ passcodes and his own grades on Wednesday. Roja Osman Hamad, 24, was charged in Cleveland County District Court with ...

    May 18, 2013

  • Former student sues OU over school’s refusal to release student parking citation information

    A lawsuit was filed against the University of Oklahoma last week after the university repeatedly refused to release student parking citation information. The lawsuit was specifically filed against David Boren, individually and as the ...

    May 18, 2013

  • Nonprofithealth care centers Variety Care and Health for Friends to merge

    In an effort to serve Cleveland County’s medically under-served residents, Health for Friends, a Norman nonprofit community health center since 1985, is merging with Variety Care, an Oklahoma City-based nonprofit Federally Qualified Health ...

    May 18, 2013

  • Sooners will rematch Razorbacks in regional title game today

    It’s a rematch on tap today at Marita Hynes Field. Top-ranked Oklahoma will face No. 24 Arkansas in the NCAA softball regional championship a day after downing the Razorbacks 10-5 in the second round of the regional tournament....

    May 19, 2013

  • May rainfall below needed levels in state

    Norman residents looking for dry days to mow yards may think spring rains are coming frequently, but experts say those rains are less than central Oklahoma needs to pull itself out of the three-year-long drought. Lake Thunderbird’s ...

    May 19, 2013

  • J.D. McCarty Center hosts open house for Camp ClapHans

    The excitement of summer camp is no longer off limits to local children with special needs, thanks to J.D. McCarty Center’s upcoming Camp ClapHans....

    May 19, 2013

  • Up to 60 injured after car drives into Virginia parade

    DAMASCUS, Va. — An elderly driver plowed into dozens of hikers marching in a Saturday parade in a small Virginia mountain town and investigators were looking into whether he suffered a medical emergency before the accident. About 50 to 60 ...

    May 19, 2013

  • Obama’s agenda still marches on

    WASHINGTON — Despite Democratic fears, predictions of the demise of President Barack Obama’s agenda appear exaggerated after a week of cascading controversies, political triage by the administration and party leaders in Congress and lack ...

    May 19, 2013