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Oklahoma Senate Expands 'Stand Your Ground' To Places of Worship

Mike Stewart
/
AP Images
Both the Oklahoma Senate and the House of Representatives have passed House Bill 2632, which expands the state's "stand your ground" law to places of worship.

Killing another person can have legal consequences even when the shooter says it was self-defense.

The state Legislature is moving to guard Oklahomans in places of worship from prosecution if they use deadly force to defend themselves during religious services.

The Senate on Thursday followed the House in passing House Bill 2632, which extends protections provided under the state’s "stand your ground law to places of worship.

The bill was inspired by recent shootings in U.S. churches.

Senators voted 42-1 to pass HB 2632. Randy Bass, D-Lawton, was the lone “no” vote in the Senate.

Stand Your Ground protections currently apply to homes, businesses and vehicles. If deadly force is used, investigators will determine if the force is justified.

Individual religious organizations will still be allowed to restrict guns in their buildings the same way businesses are allowed to restrict weapons. If Senators and state Representatives agree on details of the bill, it will move on to Gov. Mary Fallin.

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Quinton joined the team at StateImpact Oklahoma in 2017, focusing on criminal justice reporting. He is an OSU grad with degrees in Economics and Marketing who got his start in radio at KOSU. After graduation, Quinton served as Morning Edition Host/General Assignment Reporter at KBBI Radio in Homer, Alaska and Education Reporter at KTOO Public Media in Juneau, Alaska. Quinton loves writing, reading and has an intense relationship with his Netflix account.
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