Handgun laws for oklahoma.

Question
I have been searching for an answer for a while now. I recently received a handgun as a gift. I was wondering if I'm allowed to carry the gun in my truck. I live in Oklahoma and I'm 19 years old. I hope you can help.

Answer
Hi Corey.

Congratulations on the new handgun. What a nice gift!

The following link provides an excellent summary of the current Oklahoma laws for carrying concealed firearms:

http://www.handgunlaw.us/states/oklahoma.pdf

It shows that you are not allowed to carry a firearm in a vehicle without a permit, and you must be at least 21 years old to apply for a permit. So you can't carry a loaded or concealed firearm in your vehicle until you turn 21 and obtain a permit.

Most states will allow you to transport a firearm in a vehicle provided that it is unloaded, stored in a separate (usually locked) container from the ammunition, and that you are on your way to or from a legal firearm activity such as target shooting, gun shop maintenance, moving to a new home, etc. In these states you can still get into trouble if you try to carry the firearm inside the vehicle where it will be readily accessible to the driver or visible to others. It is generally best to keep the handgun in a protective case and locked in the trunk, with your ammunition stored in the glove box or otherwise secured in the passenger compartment. Don't leave loaded ammunition in the vehicle during hot weather, however, as this can shorten the life and reliability of the ammunition.

Keep in mind that firearms laws vary by state and they can change often so sometimes the information you find online is old or inaccurate. To be absolutely sure you should call your local or state police on a non-emergency line and ask them to confirm the law. Write down the name and badge number of the officer you spoke with, and the date and time of your call. Keep this information with you in the vehicle so if you are ever stopped you can use them as a reference. It won't help you if you are breaking the law, even if the officer gave you bad info, but it can show the officer that pulled you over that you made a good faith effort to learn and comply with the laws.

Hope this helps. Good luck and stay safe.

Bob