It's virtually impossible to be elected to public office in Oklahoma if you're not pro-gun, anti-drug, and tough on crime. As a result, Oklahoma now leads the country in both passing crazy gun laws and putting people in jail. It's part of something we like to call the Oklahoma Substandard.
Sometimes though, issues like guns and drugs intertwine and put our elected leaders in the uncomfortable position of choosing one third-rail issue over another. That happened this week when the Oklahoma legislature passed SB 164. The measure will allow individuals convicted of misdemeanor drug crimes to apply for an open carry permit 10 years after they complete their sentence. Under the old laws, I believe it was a lifetime ban. The bill is now awaiting Mary Fallin's signature.