An Oklahoma lawmaker has introduced a new bill that would allow state residents looking to obtain a concealed carry permit to take the class portion of the course online.

According to Four States Homepage, Representative Casey Murdock, the primary sponsor of House Bill 1391, said the proposal would make it easier for Oklahomans to get their concealed carry permit.

“By allowing an online course to get your conceal carry, people in rural areas can take it pretty much anytime they want to take it,” said Murdock.

Murdock added that under HB 1391, the background check requirements for getting a concealed carry permit would remain in place.

“With this program, you still have to go to the sheriff’s department and give them your fingerprints, run a background check through OSBI. And you know, all the online portion does is take the place of the classroom part of receiving your concealed carry,” said Murdock.

Not everyone supports the bill. Mike Friend, owner of the Firing Line gun store in Wyandotte, said online classes aren’t enough.

“There’s a lot of things you can’t do online that will happen in a classroom, like the instructor will have different scenarios that he goes through. And online, I don’t believe they’ll get that,” said Friend.

As Four States Homepage reports, a committee hearing for the proposed bill is scheduled for Thursday.

Read more: http://www.fourstateshomepage.com