Oklahoma State Senator Justifies Need For ‘Open Carry’ Gun Law Due To Threat From Wild Turkeys

[kpete]

During committee discussions, Shortey argued that he shouldn’t be required to pay fees and get a license to carry a weapon. Here’s how he justified that:

“I was in oil and gas,” Shortey said. “I was out on a lease at one time and I got attacked by a turkey. Wait until you get attacked by a turkey. You will know the fear that a turkey can invoke in a person. And so I beat it with a club. That was all I could do.

“I wish that I had a gun with me,” he said. “And I started carrying a gun in my truck after that without a license because I didn’t want to get attacked by a mountain lion. Turkeys are bad enough.”

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/04/13/464053/oklahoma-state-senator-justifies-need-for-open-carry-gun-law-due-to-threat-from-wild-turkeys/

[izquierdista]

1. Not to mention rabid snipes and wooly mammoths....

[bigtree]

2. too much Wild Turkey

[madokie]

6. Choking on coffee but yes you are right, too much wild turkey

What a putz. I remember when we used to have some good solid democrats in the house and senate but those days are gone. Its all rednecks now.

[Brickbat]

3. This cracks me up, but wild turkeys can do some real damage. They're crazy.

[HillWilliam]

14. That would be

one bunch or turkeys or another... jessayin'.

[The Straight Story]

4. In his defense

Having lived in the country, the mountains, the desert, and city myself - I would have felt a little more at ease out in some places with an open carry. I don't own a gun btw (I like to tell people that because when I am for adults making choices about where they can be allowed to buy a drink people say 'you just say that because you smoke' - no, I am actually for choices for other people too because I actually believe in choice).

Living in rural areas is a lot different than other places. From wild boar to gators to mountain lions, etc and so on.

Guns are just a tool to many. To others they are nothing but absolute horror and fear.

[LiberalFighter]

5. So it is okay to shoot wild turkeys?

Does he realize that many probably think he is a turkey? And definitely wild with his craziness.

Based on other legislation that he has proposed it is obvious he is crazy. But mostly stupid.

[madokie]

7. Damn sure a lot of stupid there

[Horse with no Name]

8. What kind of Wild Turkey?

Bourbon?

[hifiguy]

10. The only turkey here is obvious

and it isn't feathered.

[RC]

11. This kind of real wild turkey?

Came out of the bushes 20 feet away. And a mommy yet. She knew I was there, but otherwise ignored me.

[meow2u3]

15. No--wild turkey surprise

[GoCubsGo]

22. I run into them all the time in the woods.

Never had one come after me. They always ran away in fear.

[BlueDemKev]

12. How is it that so many brainless farts live right down the middle strip of America?

The Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas? Look at any electoral map over the last 30 years, you'll always see that that "Red River" splitting the East and West parts of America.

[RC]

16. Hey now, be nice.

I lived for 45 years on the west side of the Red River and 15 years within a stone's throw of it. I don't resemble that remark.

[BlueDemKev]

20. Yeah, well.....

....I live in rural Georgia and can say that I'm NOT representative of this state at all.

[Enrique]

13. stand your ground turkey

[RC]

17. Ground Turkey?

Got any recipes?

[MineralMan]

18. Oh, bother.

I've been attacked by a wild tom turkey. The second time it charged at me, I grabbed its skinny neck and held it away from me. It stopped flapping and trying to kick at me, so I released it. It ran off quickly. I've also been attacked by a Canada goose. That time, I just started running toward it. It beat feet to get away from me and never bothered me again.

A grown man afraid of a turkey? Feh!

[bhcodem]

21. About that attacking swan in Illinois...

the keeper fell in the water and drowned due to the attacking swan, so you just don't know about wildlife????

[bullwinkle428]

23. Wild turkeys are one of the most harmless creatures on earth. This fugger probably instigated

the action against the "monstrous beast" that attacked him, if he's telling the truth to begin with. Given his self-identification as a Repuke, I have my own doubts.

They wander all over a couple of the golf courses I play at, and don't seem to have the slightest care in the world that I happen to be approaching, or doing my business right in their general vicinity...