Oklahoma Concealed Carry Firearm Laws

Oklahoma: Gun Laws Summary

Oklahoma is a shall-issue, permitless carry state. Licenses are processed at the county level by the local sheriff’s office.

No permit is needed to purchase a firearm from a private individual, there is no waiting period and there is no firearms registration in the state. A background check is required if purchasing a handgun from a Federal Firearms Dealer.

Open carry is legal without a license, for anyone that can legally own a firearm and is at least 21 years old (or at least 18 years old for members or veterans of the U.S. military) in lawful self-defense and self-protection or any other legitimate purpose such as hunting, fishing, educational or recreational purposes. Some areas are off-limits, including public government buildings.

Oklahoma has permitless carry. It allows anyone who is at least 21 years old (or at least 18 years old and is a member of the military or honorably discharged veteran) that can legally own a firearm to openly or concealed carry without a license. Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation’s Self-Defense Act Licenses (SDAL) are issued to residents and military personnel and their spouses stationed in Oklahoma only. A person must be 21 or older, have completed a firearms course and meet other criteria to apply. There are restrictions on the caliber of the firearm a license holder can carry with, .45 caliber being the highest. Licenses are not available for non-residents. In terms of reciprocity, Oklahoma recognizes permits issued by all other states. In addition, residents of other permitless carry states can carry in the state.

Immunity from Civil & Criminal Liability

A person who uses justified defensive force is immune from criminal prosecution and civil action for the use of such defensive force. Okla. Stat. tit. 21, § 1289.25

Self-Defense

Oklahoma is a Castle Doctrine state and has a “stand your ground” statute. There is no duty to retreat, and the law applies any place where a person has a right to be. A person has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground and meet force with force, including deadly force, if he or she reasonably believes it is necessary to do so to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another, or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony.

A person within a place of worship or at a business is presumed to have held a reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or great bodily harm when using defensive force that is intended or likely to cause death or great bodily harm to another if:

The person against whom the defensive force was used was in the process of unlawfully and forcefully entering or had unlawfully entered a dwelling, residence, occupied vehicle, place of business or place of worship, or if that person had removed or was attempting to remove another against the person’s will; or
The person who uses defensive force knew or had reason to believe that an unlawful and forcible entry or unlawful and forcible act was occurring or had occurred; or
The person who uses defensive force knew or had a reasonable belief that the person against whom the defensive force was used entered or was attempting to enter into a dwelling, residence, occupied vehicle, place of business or place of worship for the purpose of committing a forcible felony, and that the defensive force was necessary to prevent the commission of the forcible felony.

“Dwelling” means a building or conveyance of any kind, including any attached porch, whether the building or conveyance is temporary or permanent, mobile or immobile, which has a roof over it, including a tent, and is designed to be occupied by people.

“Residence” means a dwelling in which a person resides either temporarily or permanently or is visiting as an invited guest.

Oklahoma: Gun Laws at a Glance


License Issuance	Oklahoma is a shall-issue state.
Minimum Age for Concealed Carry	The minimum age to concealed carry in Oklahoma is 21 years old.
Taser or Stun Gun Ownership	Stun guns and Tasers are legal to purchase and possess without a license.
Concealed Carry of Non-Handguns	No. Handguns larger than .45 caliber or >16” in length are prohibited. [Okla. Stat. tit. 21, § 1290.6]
Pepper Spray Legality	Pepper spray is legal to purchase and possess in Oklahoma. It is unlawful to use pepper spray against another person knowing the other person to be a peace officer, corrections officer, probation or parole officer, firefighter or an emergency medical technician or paramedic who is acting in the course of official duty. [Okla. Stat. tit.21-1272.3]
Magazine Capacity Restrictions	Oklahoma does not have magazine capacity restrictions.
Ammunition Restrictions	The possession or use of any “restricted bullet” is prohibited. Carrying a concealed handgun loaded with ammunition larger than .45 caliber is also prohibited. [Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 21, § 1289.21]
Permitless Carry	Permitless carry went into effect on November 1, 2019. It allows anyone who is at least 21 years old (or at least 18 years old and is a member of the military or honorably discharged veteran) that can legally possess a firearm to carry openly or concealed without a license. [Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation]
Open Carry	With a license, anyone at least 18 years old can openly carry a loaded or unloaded pistol or handgun in a holster where the firearm is visible, or carried upon the person using a scabbard, sling or case designed for carrying firearms. Without a license, anyone that can legally own a firearm and is at least 21 years old (or at least 18 years old for members or veterans of the U.S. military) can open carry in lawful self-defense and self-protection or any other legitimate purpose. Handguns larger than .45 caliber are prohibited. [Okla. Stat. tit. 21, § 1272, 1290.2 & 1290.6]

Oklahoma: Carry Locations


Can you carry a concealed firearm in bars and restaurants that serve alcohol in Oklahoma?	You can concealed carry in the restaurant area of an eatery that serves alcohol without a license, unless posted and provided you are not under the influence. Concealed carry is not allowed in bars or the bar areas of restaurants. [Okla. Stat. tit. 12A, § 1272.1]
Can you carry a concealed handgun in a vehicle in Oklahoma?	Yes, without a license. [Okla. Stat. tit. 12A, § 1289.7]
Can you carry a concealed firearm at roadside rest areas in Oklahoma?	Yes. Concealed carry is allowed at roadside rest areas in Oklahoma. [Okla. Stat. tit. 12A, § 1289.7]
Can you carry a concealed firearm in state/national parks, state/national forests and Wildlife Management Areas in Oklahoma?	Yes, but not in any buildings. [Okla. Stat. tit. 12A, § 1277.B.4]
Can you carry or possess a firearm on hotel property in Oklahoma?	A business entity may prohibit any person from carrying a concealed or unconcealed firearm on the property. If the building or property is open to the public, the property owner, tenant, employer, place of worship or business entity shall post signs on or about the property stating such prohibition. No property owner or business entity may prohibit any person (except a convicted felon) from transporting and storing a firearm in a locked vehicle on any property set aside for a vehicle. The individual hotel should be contacted to inquire about its concealed carry policy. See the Handguns at Hotels page for additional information. [Okla. Stat. tit. 12A, §§ 1290.22(B) and (C)]
Does Oklahoma have laws relating to storing firearms in private vehicles in an employee parking lot?	No person, property owner, tenant, employer or business entity is allowed to maintain, establish or enforce any policy or rule that has the effect of prohibiting any person (except a convicted felon) from transporting and storing firearms in a locked motor vehicle, or from transporting and storing a firearm locked in or locked to a motor vehicle on any property set aside for any motor vehicle. [Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 21, § 1290.22(B)][Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 21, §§ 1289.7a,]

Oklahoma: Key State Laws


Do you have a duty to inform a police officer that you’re carrying a concealed firearm in Oklahoma?	No. There is no duty to inform a law enforcement officer that you’re carrying a concealed firearm in Oklahoma unless the officer asks. [Okla. Stat. tit. 12A, § 1290.8]
Is my Oklahoma driver’s license linked to my Oklahoma carry license?	No. Your Oklahoma driver’s license is not linked to your Oklahoma Self-Defense Act license. Therefore, a law enforcement officer (LEO) will not be notified that you are a concealed carry license holder immediately when they run your driver’s license. [USCCA]
If yes, violating the sign would be considered to be a crime. If no, violating the sign would not be considered a criminal offense.	Yes, if you are asked to leave a private establishment and refuse, you may be charged with a misdemeanor and required to pay a fine, spend time in county jail, and/or both. [Okla. Stat. tit. 12A, § 1290.22(C) and 1276]
Does Oklahoma have preemption laws related to concealed carry (i.e. Does state law supersede local laws regarding the possession of handguns)?	Yes. The authority to regulate firearms is reserved to the state, except local municipalities may regulate the discharge of firearms within the jurisdiction. State preemption is now extended to Red Flag laws as well. [Okla. Stat. tit. 12A, § 1289.24]
Does Oklahoma have a red flag law?	No. Oklahoma does not have a red flag law.
Does Oklahoma issue concealed carry licenses to non-residents?	Yes. Only members of the military stationed in Oklahoma and their spouses. [USCCA]
Does Oklahoma allow the public to access concealed carry registry information through public records law?	No, however, the information is available for law enforcement. [USCCA]
Does Oklahoma state law define brandishing?	No definition of brandishing was found in Oklahoma law. It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully or without lawful cause point a shotgun, rifle or pistol, or any deadly weapon, whether loaded or not, at any person or persons for the purpose of threatening or with the intention of discharging the firearm or with any malice or for any purpose of injuring, either through physical injury or mental or emotional intimidation or for purposes of whimsy, humor or prank, or in anger or otherwise. It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in reckless conduct while having in his or her possession any shotgun, rifle or pistol, such actions consisting of creating a situation of unreasonable risk and probability of death or great bodily harm to another, and demonstrating a conscious disregard for the safety of another person. [Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 21 § 1289.16, Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 21 § 1289.11]
Does Oklahoma have laws regarding carrying a concealed firearm while using alcohol or drugs?	Not while under the influence of beer, intoxicating liquors or any hallucinogenic, or any unlawful or unprescribed drug, or any drug prescribed by a licensed physician if the aftereffects of such consumption affect mental, emotional or physical processes to a degree that would result in abnormal behavior. As a responsibly armed American, regardless of the laws in your state, it is unwise to carry while under the influence of any substance that could impair your judgement, slow your reaction times or impact your decision-making abilities. Any decision you make while carrying a firearm could have life-altering consequences. [Okla. Stat. tit. 21 §1289.9]

Oklahoma: Handgun Purchase and Possession


Permit to Purchase	A permit is not required to purchase a handgun in Oklahoma. [source]
Background Checks for Private Sales	Private firearms transfers are not subject to a background check requirement, although federal and state purchaser prohibitions, including age restrictions, still apply. It is recommended that you retain any sales receipts to prove ownership of the gun. [source]
Background Check Exemption with Concealed Carry License	No. [source]
Waiting Period	There is not a waiting period after purchasing a handgun in Oklahoma. [source]
Handgun Registration	Handguns do not need to be registered in Oklahoma. [source]
Minimum Age for Possession and Transport	18 years old. It is unlawful for any parent or guardian to intentionally, knowingly or recklessly permit his or her child to possess any firearm if the parent is aware of a substantial risk that the child will use the weapon to commit a criminal offense or if the child has either been adjudicated a delinquent or has been convicted as an adult for any criminal offense that contains as an element the threat or use of physical force against the person of another. It is unlawful for any child to possess any firearm, except firearms used for participation in hunting animals or fowl, hunter safety classes, education and training in the safe use and handling of firearms, target shooting, skeet, trap or other sporting events or competitions. [source]
Permitless Carry in Home	Yes. Permitless carry is allowed in Oklahoma for anyone legally entitled to carry a firearm. [source]