In one of those ‘weird flex but ok’ type of approaches to throwing shade at the new Oklahoma Constitutional Carry law, ABC Tulsa did a report on gun businesses looking at closing their doors due to the change. But when you read the story, the subject himself isn’t looking to, he just knows a few folks that have expressed the thought.
TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — Friday’s new gun law is impacting business across Green Country.
On Nov. 1, “constitutional carry” aka “permitless carry” goes into effect allowing Oklahomans 21 and over to carry their guns without a permit or license, which in turn, means fewer people are seeking training, impacting firearm instructors. – ABC Tulsa
I would caution you to hold on just a moment. In states with permitless carry firearm training is still quality business for reciprocity and general education. There might be a initial slump and the people looking to do the bare minimum may drift out of the paying market, states with permitless carry still have a cadre of firearms instructors that do business. It’s about the business model and the reasoning behind the training.
Yes, the captive audience goes away. But in all honesty that’s a poor business model and has a tendency to lower the quality of the delivered product. I’ve seen my fair share of rubber stamp instructors who are meeting the captive audience requirements but not doing their students any favors on practical understanding. I’ve heard of the same thing in the driver’s education markets, especially among adult oriented instructors.
Will instructors see a slump in business? Likely, some may see volumes drop to levels that they won’t want to maintain a regular schedule anymore. When I moved the same thing happened, I personally don’t teach regularly anymore either. But talking with instructors and staff of firearms businesses in states with minimal or no training requirements, they see a steady stream of folks who still want the training and permits voluntarily. They see value in the education and the reciprocity the concealed carry license brings.
It’s just curious to see ABC taking the angle of ‘Oklahoma Constitutional Carry hurts businesses’ as a backhanded pro-gun argument.
