Oklahoma gun laws provide some of the strongest Second Amendment protections in the country. Article 2 of the state constitution states, “The right of a citizen to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person, or property, or in aid of the civil power, when thereunto legally summoned, shall never be prohibited.” In March 2024, the House passed a resolution that would make the state constitution’s right to bear arms even stronger.
Buying and Selling Guns in Oklahoma
In Oklahoma, you don’t need a permit or license to buy a firearm, and you don’t need to register your firearms. You do need to be at least 18 years old to buy a gun. It’s illegal to give or sell a gun to someone under 18, unless you’re their parent and the gun is for safety training, hunting, target shooting, or another sporting event.
Under a federal law known as the Brady Act, background checks are required if you’re purchasing a gun from a federally licensed dealer. If a background check finds that you’re a felon, fugitive, subject to a restraining order, or other disqualifying facts, you won’t be allowed to purchase the gun.
Oklahoma is required to follow the federal law. However, the Brady Act doesn’t apply to private sellers, which means that people can still buy guns at gun shows or online without background checks. Unlike some other states, Oklahoma hasn’t enacted state-level laws that require these sellers to perform background checks. However, Oklahoma does have the following laws:
- No person can knowingly sell, trade, or transfer a firearm to a convicted felon, delinquent, person under the influence, or person who is mentally or emotionally disturbed.
- It’s illegal to buy a firearm if you meet the above conditions, and it’s illegal to provide false information to a licensed dealer or private seller.
Also unlike some other states, Oklahoma also does not ban the sale of assault-style weapons or large-capacity magazines. However, there are restrictions on ammunition: It’s illegal to buy, sell, or possess “restricted bullets,” defined as “a round or elongated missile with a core of less than 60% lead and having a fluorocarbon coating, which is designed to travel at a high velocity and is capable of penetrating body armor.”
Possessing a Gun in Oklahoma
Like buying a gun, minors under age 18 also can’t possess a gun in Oklahoma, unless it’s for safety training, hunting, or sporting events. It’s also illegal to possess a gun if you:
- Have been found by the court to be a delinquent child or youthful offender for a crime that would be a felony if committed by an adult
- Have been convicted of a felony or are on probation
- Are an illegal alien or unlawfully in the United States
- Have been convicted of a domestic assault and battery charge
- Have an active protective order against you
If you’re a felon or an illegal alien, you don’t need to have the gun in your actual possession. It’s also illegal for you to be in a vehicle or a residence where there is a gun.
Another important Oklahoma gun law: While there are no laws against assault-style weapons or large-capacity magazines, it is a felony to knowingly possess a sawed-off shotgun or a sawed-off rifle.
Transporting and Carrying Guns in Oklahoma
In Oklahoma, “transporting” guns means having them in your vehicle when you’re driving. According to Oklahoma gun laws, as long as you’re legally allowed to possess a firearm, you can:
- Transport a handgun, loaded or unloaded in a motor vehicle at any time
- Transport a rifle or shotgun, open or concealed, in a motor vehicle if it’s unloaded and stored in an exterior or interior locked compartment
If you’re transporting a gun and you’re pulled over, you have to tell law enforcement that you have a gun in the vehicle, but only if they ask. You also can’t transport a gun on a boat, unless you’re hunting.
“Carrying” means having a firearm on your physical person. Oklahoma is a constitutional carry state: People over age 21 who are otherwise legally allowed to possess firearms can carry them, either openly or concealed, without a permit. Some important open and concealed carry gun laws in Oklahoma include:
- You can’t carry a firearm if you intend to hurt someone with it
- You can’t carry a firearm if you’re under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- You generally can’t carry a firearm in airports, bars, gambling establishments, government buildings, schools, and sports venues
Business and property owners also have the right to prohibit firearms on their property. If you see a posted sign that firearms are not allowed, you should follow it.
Using Guns for Self-Defense in Oklahoma
Oklahoma’s self-defense laws recognize several doctrines that give individuals a variety of options when defending themselves or others:
- Castle Doctrine: Homeowners are allowed to use force against intruders.
- Make My Day Doctrine: Anyone who is legally in a home, in their vehicle, or at their place of work can use force against intruders.
- Stand Your Ground: An individual may be able to claim self-defense whenever they’re attacked somewhere they have a right to be, as long as they weren’t doing anything illegal, they didn’t start the fight, they had a reasonable fear of harm, and the amount of force was justified.
Self-defense gun laws in Oklahoma can be complicated, and proving that force was justified isn’t always easy. If you’ve been arrested for a crime that was self-defense, you definitely need an experienced lawyer on your side.
Have You Been Charged With a Gun Violation in Oklahoma?
Your Second Amendment rights are generally protected in Oklahoma. But there are still plenty of ways you can get in trouble. Whether you’re a felon who happened to be in someone else’s home or vehicle with a firearm present, accidentally carried a firearm into a business where it was prohibited, or have a more serious gun charge, the Khalaf Law Firm can help. We examine every possible detail of your case and fight to get the best outcome. Contact us today so we can get started working on your defense.