Thursday, August 22, 2019

OKC Mayor Holt signs petition to repeal Constitutional Carry

OKC Mayor David Holt has signed on to the initiative petition that aims to repeal Oklahoma's pending permitless carry (aka Constitutional Carry) legislation that is set to go into effect in November.

"Many OKC residents have deep concerns about permitless carry, set to take effect 11/1," Holt said in a tweet yesterday. "Regardless of your stance, a vote settles the debate. A petition is being circulated to provide that option & I just added my name. If you want to sign it as well, Tweet @cackiness."

Oklahoma City has trended leftward politically in recent years, and leftist anti-gun activists had been calling on the moderate liberal Republican mayor to sign their petition. Moderately conservative when first elected to the State Senate, various conservative rating groups like the Oklahoma Constitution and the American Conservative Union tracked Holt trending to the center the longer he was in the Senate, and has continued trending to the left during his tenure as mayor.

Holt seems to be employing a policy of ambiguity on the topic, avoiding outright stating his position in favor or opposition to the petition's goal but signing it nonetheless, lending (at the least) tacit support for it. Much like King Saul in I Samuel 15, Holt can try the excuse that he signed the petition because "the people" asked him to.

It's similar to the "coward's strategy" oftentimes used in the legislature, where major policies are passed as state questions in order to "pass the buck" for the result to the state's voters, instead of taking the legislative responsibility on themselves. "I didn't vote for it [if it ends up being unpopular] or against it [if it ends up being popular], I just wanted 'the people' to have a say" goes the line.

Holt was first elected mayor in 2018, and won't be up for reelection until 2022.


Richard Aytes said...

This does not surprise me in the least. It was obvious he was left leaning when he decided to celebrate LGBT for a week and to be the first the first to do so. Now to sign a petition to reverse a law for carrying a weapon show his weakness as a leader. He should have publicly announced his position prior to the signing of the bill by the governor.

Skyygal said...

The Mayor David Holt is an kid without a brain !!! He had better rethink his views on the carry gun thing without a permit. Someone is going to shoot his ass and he will never know who did it. What a nut case !!! Can't believe he even thinks this law would be good !!! He needs to grow up !!!! Would never vote for the kid again as he needs to get a grip on life and laws... Everyone who packs needs to go through the class and be registered. We went through it and it was great, Dave needs to grow up !!!

Larry said...

Never give up our guns...never...