ENID — Autry Technology Center Superintendent Jim Strate is concerned about a bill in the Oklahoma Legislature that would allow guns on career tech campuses.

The bill, Senate Bill 2230 by Sen. Steve Russell, R-Oklahoma City, and Rep. John Enns, R-Enid, allows people with a conceal and carry license to keep guns locked in their cars on CareerTech campuses.

“This is a terrible bill,” Strate said in a letter to legislators.

Strate said Autry Tech has high school students, adults and industry clients on campus, and a number of CareerTechs have day care facilities for newborns through early adolescents. Strate said he does not see the legislation as a Second Amendment issue, but rather a safety issue, and he is opposed to it.

“I am an avid hunter and I believe in the Second Amendment, but I don’t think schools are a place for guns, locked or unlocked. It’s not a good deal,” he said.

Enns, House sponsor of the bill, said constituents in his district, as well as those in Russell’s district, have asked for help with a problem.

“They say they have conceal and carry licenses, and they carry guns all day long,” Enns said. “Then they come straight to class from work, and if they leave their gun in the vehicle they are guilty of a felony. I understand Jim’s concern, but at the same time we can’t make felons out of law-abiding citizens.”

He said next session he may look at removing the felony charge for those leaving guns in their cars.

Strate said there have been problems around the United States with guns on campus, and he questioned how far the Second Amendment can be taken. The bill has passed the Senate, and Enns said it will come to the floor of the House this week. If it is passed by the House it will go to the governor.

“We face a lot of adults who are stressed out because they have lost their jobs, they have marital stress,” Strate said. “It scares me to death. We must do all we can to make sure there is a safe environment at school.”

“If you are in a CareerTech parking lot, leaving your gun in the car is a felony,” Enns said. “Any school, excluding colleges and universities, you’re making criminals out of law-abiding citizens and it’s not people with conceal and carry licenses, I can assure you, who commit crimes.”

Enns said statistics show a law enforcement officer is more likely to commit a crime than an individual with a conceal and carry license. He has had more requests for the legislation than against it.

Enns said he is working with Greg Winters, superintendent at Canadian Valley CareerTech, and all weapons left in cars must have a locking device on the gun and it must be locked in the car.

“Students must be safe and feel safe at school,” Strate said. “When you look at the variety of students we have, we have a lot of industry people and industries don’t allow guns on their property. It’s just common sense and good judgment.”