State Sen Steve Russell: Police Chief Bill Citty views " Are not welcome here!"

[dieseltech09]

From sundays paper:
http://newsok.com/lawmaker-takes-is...article/3534308?custom_click=headlines_widget

Lawmaker takes issue with OKC police chief's remarks about weapons
BY STATE SEN. STEVE RUSSELL Oklahoman 2 Published: January 23, 2011


I sincerely appreciate the service that Oklahoma City Police Chief Bill Citty has given to our community and share his concern for his officers. However, I strongly disagree with his view that certain types of military-style firearms inherently pose a great public threat (“OKC police chief wants tougher gun laws,” news story, Jan. 16).

City Councilmen Sam Bowman and Pete White have supported Citty's stance and share the belief that these types of weapons have no place in civil communities. I consider those comments to be uncivil to the hundreds of thousands of law-abiding Oklahoma gun owners. More importantly, efforts to impose these views on all citizens are a danger to our guaranteed Oklahoma and U.S. constitutional freedoms.

As co-chairman of the Senate Veteran's Affairs Committee and as a member of both Senate public safety committees, I call on Citty to provide the data that shows these types of weapons are used extensively in crime and pose a greater threat statistically than any other commonly held and legally purchased type of firearm.

There is simply no empirical evidence to support his claim. According to the FBI, crime has dropped 14 percent since 2004, the period he cites as when the so-called ban on military weapons expired. The fact is these weapons were never banned but only certain modifications to them were.

Citty's proposal of registration or titling of such weapons violates Oklahoma's constitution. Furthermore, being able to protect ourselves with the type of firearm we feel most comfortable with is a part of our federal constitutional freedoms. These are basic rights - not privileges bestowed on us by benevolent politicians. His views are something one might hear in San Francisco but are not welcome in Oklahoma. Citty also needs to be mindful that Section 2, Article 26 of the Oklahoma Constitution prohibits any such actions as he proposes.

Citty states that he cannot imagine why anyone would want to own such a weapon. On behalf of tens of thousands of active serving and veteran military, I find such comments an affront to the law-abiding citizen. Many soldiers keep such arms to maintain shooting proficiency and many veterans develop an affinity with such weapons they carried in the service, even though these are semi-auto only and are not automatic of the type carried in the service. Tens of thousands of Oklahomans keep and bear such weapons with no threat to the public. The implication that these citizens are either crazed or criminals is offensive.

It should be pointed out that in 1789 when our Bill of Rights was signed as a part of our Constitution, the Brown Bess Musket was the latest in cutting-edge technology of military firearms used for defense of home and property by the common people.

One incident should not become the catalyst for robbing the vast majority of law-abiding citizens' personal freedoms.

 

[permafrost]

Absolutely right! Steve has proven to be a friend of gun owners in this state. As for Mr. Citty, the person firing the AR at the officer was the son of an illegal alien, stopped for dui. He was trying to prevent his father from being taken to jail .This person has been deported at least once in the past and is back again! Chief Citty, after HB 1804 was passed, allowing police officers to cross train in ICE enforcement with federal agencies, refused to allow his officers to participate.He doesn't feel it is their job to enforce immigration law.If he is concerned with his officers safety why does he think he can choose which laws to enforce and which ones not to? Sheriff Whetsel also refused, basically making OKC a sanctuary city. Perhaps this whole incident could have been avoided if he would have allowed his officers to get the proper training. Instead Mr. Citty calls for more gun control! Sheriff Whetsel also refused to allow his officers to get this additional training. Instead they try to put the burden of their office on gun owners. What a steaming pantload!

 

[SMS]

Is Citty even from here? Either way he needs to go.

 

[mhphoto]

Very good write up by Sen. Russell.

 

[permafrost]

Is Citty even from here? Either way he needs to go.

I believe he is from the OKC area, unfortunately. I'm thinking San Fran Nan would welcome him with open arms!

 

[malcolmrenyolds]

Thanks to dieseltech09 for posting this article, I would have missed it. It's nice to see some of our elected officials are still in touch with the people they represent.

 

[alank2]

Hi,

Very nice response, good to see one. Usually only the idiots get their play in the media.

Thanks,

Alan

 

[Shadowrider]

 

[Michael Brown]

From sundays paper:
http://newsok.com/lawmaker-takes-is...article/3534308?custom_click=headlines_widget

This is an intelligent and POLITE criticism of the chief's position.

Many who post here should learn from it.

Michael Brown

 

[farmerbyron]

Russell looks to have a bright political future ahead of him. I would vote for him over Fallin every day of the week should he choose to run for Gov.