By Rep. Cody Maynard
On April 19, the Oklahoma House of Representatives remembered the 28th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing with a presentation and the reading of a resolution.
The bombing happened at 9:02 a.m. April 19, 1995, in downtown Oklahoma City, taking the lives of 168 people and injuring more than 850 others. It is the worst domestic terrorist attack ever to occur in United States history.
House Resolution 1011, authored by Rep. Rick West, sent a heartfelt remembrance to the families, friends and neighbors of those killed and injured in the terrorist bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building and expressed gratitude to those who answered the call for help.
We had the great honor of hearing from Charlie Hanger. His story is proof that one cop can have an incredible impact with one single traffic stop. Charlie shared with us his unique story of that day.
Charlie made a routine traffic stop that ended in the arrest of Timothy McVeigh, who was later charged and convicted for the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.
We must always remember those whose lives were lost. House District 21 will never forget.
Last week we started to hear Senate Bills on the House floor. The deadline to finish hearing bills from the opposite chamber is Thursday, April 27.
So far, we’ve heard several House and Senate bills pushing back against federal overreach, protecting individual liberties, and championing common-sense policies.
Over the past two sessions, House Republicans have passed multiple pieces of legislation that have reaffirmed Oklahoma’s state sovereignty and kept Biden’s Leftist policies out of our state. The Biden Administration has no regard for states’ powers. And that isn’t going to work in Oklahoma.
The House States’ Power Committee, which I vice chair, passed Senate Bill 404, which is now eligible to be heard on the House floor. Its goal is to push back on federal regulations that exclude people based on religion.
The House has also continued to pass legislation to protect individuals’ fundamental right to own and carry firearms. The right to bear arms is an essential part of the American heritage and a necessary means of self-defense.
We passed House Bill 2737, which expands second amendment rights in Oklahoma and removes the prohibition on carrying firearms larger than a .45 caliber under the provisions of the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act. The bill was not heard in Senate Committee, but we can continue the discussion as it is still alive for next year.
House Bill 1404 also passed the House floor. It updates language so that constitutional carry applies to a person’s boat. It is now eligible to be heard by the full Senate.
It is truly an honor and privilege to represent you at the State Capitol. As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any concerns at 405-557-7366 or cody.maynard@okhouse.gov.