Pro Tem Paxton Applauds House Passage of Senate Bill 631 to Increase Sentencing Requirements for Shooting into a Home or Business

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, today released the following statement after Senate Bill 631 passed off the House floor.

Senate Bill 631 is a public safety measure that adds the crime of maliciously discharging a firearm at or into a home, building or business to the list of offenses requiring convicts to serve at least 85% of their sentence before they are eligible for parole.

The legislation is carefully tailored to ensure that only the criminal element will be prosecuted. If the shooting is accidental or unintentional, it will be at the discretion of a district attorney as to whether or not the shooting was willful or intentional.

“I appreciate the members of the House of Representatives for their support of this bill,” Pro Tem Paxton said. "This legislation is about protecting innocent people and sending a clear message: If you fire a weapon at someone’s home, a business or any public place, you will be held fully accountable. Oklahomans have the right to feel safe in their homes and communities. Senate Bill 631 strengthens our criminal justice system by making sure those who threaten that safety serve the majority of their sentence behind bars. With this measure heading to the governor, we are one step closer to making Oklahoma a safer place to live.”

The legislation also extends the 85% requirement to individuals who attempt, conspire or solicit others to commit any of the violent crimes already classified under Oklahoma’s 85% sentencing law.

By mandating that individuals convicted of this offense serve a minimum of 85% of their sentence, the legislation seeks to prevent premature releases that could compromise community security committed by violent criminals.

The bill now heads to the governor’s desk.