https://newsok.com/article/5595973/lake-hefner-shootings-spark-renewed-gun-debateIn the hours after Oklahoma City police announced that an armed bystander killed the Lake Hefner restaurant shooter on Thursday, a debate erupted over "good guys" and "bad guys" with guns.
State lawmakers, gubernatorial candidates and the National Rifle Association weighed in on social media, along with dozens of people venting about the Second Amendment and gun control.
Oklahoma state Rep. Emily Virgin, a Norman Democrat, said on Twitter, "Thankful that someone stopped this before it got worse, but ultimately we've got to prevent shootings from happening in the first place. Don't let 'bad guys' get guns and then 'good guys with guns' won't have to stop them."
Virgin's comment came within minutes of an Oklahoma City Police Department tweet that the shooter was "apparently" shot to death by an armed citizen.
State Rep. Cindi Munson, an Oklahoma City Democrat, tweeted that "Lake Hefner is a sanctuary for me and many of us in the OKC area. My prayers are with everyone who thought they'd be having dinner in a safe place tonight. This is too close to home. Common sense gun laws have been necessary, but now more so than ever."
State Sen. Nathan Dahm, a Broken Arrow Republican who wants legislators to call themselves into special session to address Gov. Mary Fallin's veto of the constitutional carry bill, said on Facebook Friday, "Last night, a terrible tragedy was stopped here in Oklahoma by a law-abiding citizen who was armed and prepared.
"The right to self-defense is a fundamental, God-given, constitutionally protected right I will always fight to protect."
Fallin vetoed constitutional carry legislation earlier this month, saying that the "firearms laws we currently have in place are effective, appropriate and minimal, and serve to reassure our citizens that people who are carrying handguns in this state are qualified to do so."
The National Rifle Association had urged Fallin to sign the bill.
On Friday, the organization said, "An Armed Citizen saved multiple lives last night in OKC. We hope this serves as a wake-up call for (Fallin), who just two weeks ago vetoed a constitutional carry bill. Just another example of how the best way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun."
“I am thankful that under the concealed-carry and open-carry laws that I have signed as governor, two armed citizens had the ability to protect and save the lives of our fellow Oklahomans,” Fallin said. “This is not the time to debate the NRA’s efforts to repeal Oklahoma’s regulations assuring safety and training for those who carry guns. This is a time to offer up prayers to the victims of this tragedy.”
Police reported Friday that Alexander C. Tilghman, 28, of Oklahoma City, walked to the doorway of Louie's Grill & Bar at Lake Hefner about 6:30 p.m. Thursday and fired several rounds from a handgun. Three people were shot: Natalie N. Giles, 39, and two unidentified girls.
After Tilghman left the restaurant, citizens Juan Carlos Nazario, 35, and Bryan Whittle, 39, shot and killed him, according to police.
The first reports on Thursday night were that one armed bystander had killed the suspected gunman after he left the restaurant.
Among the first to give their opinions were two Libertarian candidates for governor.
Chris Powell, of Bethany, issued a news release saying that, as governor, he would not hesitate "to sign legislation that reaffirms the right of individuals to be prepared to defend themselves and others as they see fit."
