Grant Worley For State House District 53

Firearms have been a cornerstone of American culture and liberty since before our nation’s founding. The right to keep and bear arms is not a modern invention; it traces back to the English Bill of Rights of 1689 and even earlier traditions, where citizens were expected to bear arms in defense of their homes, communities, and nation. A truly free people must have the means to secure their freedom. The 2nd Amendment is not merely about hunting or target shooting; it is the fundamental safeguard of our God-given liberties. It serves as a check on government power, a deterrent to foreign enemies, and a protection against those in society who would do us harm.

The right to bear arms is not merely a policy issue; it is a moral obligation rooted in freedom, self-determination, and the enduring belief that ultimate responsibility for one’s safety lies with the individual, not the state. Here in Oklahoma, we honor our traditions of individual responsibility and self-reliance, but our laws can do more to defend our 2nd Amendment rights. As a lifetime member of the NRA, I applaud organizations like OK2A, G.O.A., and the N.R.A. for their tireless defense of our freedoms, but we cannot rely on them alone. Oklahoma must lead the charge, standing firm against federal overreach and setting the standard for what 2nd Amendment protections look like nationwide.

“From my Cold Dead Hands!” – Charlton Heston, Former NRA President

Every dollar taken out of an Oklahoman’s pocket is one dollar less that they have to feed their families and one dollar less that they can use to improve not only their lives but the wealth and prosperity of every Oklahoman. We need a policy that ensures we, as a state, reward those who deserve it most while ensuring the government stays out of your pockets. Whether that means abolishing property tax for certain categories of property, such as individually owned homesteads, or actually cutting the state income tax instead of waiting for the “perfect” moment, Oklahomans shouldn’t have to wait for tax relief; we should have it now.

Property is a fundamental right of every American, so fundamental that protections against state confiscation go back to the Magna Carta in 1216. That great document recognized that certain forms of property were so central to an individual that even the King of England could not confiscate them without the owner’s consent. Today, our system provides no such guarantees. I propose to change that. Family homesteads, ranches, or farms that have remained within the same family for generations should never be taken by the state without the approval of the owners. Property is more than just a home; it is a source of income, a livelihood, and the means to provide for one’s family. As such, it must be protected from eminent domain and safeguarded as the essential foundation of freedom and security.

The state of education in Oklahoma is always a hot button issue, but it doesn’t have to be. While many solutions have been proposed, the answer is simpler than people realize, and it doesn’t involve spending more money. What Oklahoma needs is a crackdown on wasteful and inefficient spending, and a return to classical, proven methods of teaching.

Over the past two decades, the state has hired more than three times as many administrators as special education teachers. These costly administrative positions do little to directly improve student achievement and do not provide a return equal to their cost. Additionally, Oklahoma also has over 540 school districts, far more than other states with similar student populations. Consolidating districts into a more reasonable number would free up resources for the schools that truly need them. Instead of simply throwing more money at the problem, we must eliminate waste, fraud, and inefficiency, and focus on teaching methods that have already proven effective.

Nothing is more urgent than ending the barbaric practice of killing unborn persons, a practice that has persisted for far too long in this country. Every person bears the image of God and possesses equal moral worth, whether in the womb or outside it. Our current laws fail to recognize this fundamental equality but instead hide behind a smoke screen of pro-life language. The only way to protect all human life is through an Equal Protection bill that guarantees every human being, born and unborn, is treated fairly under the law.

The Rule of Law and its equal application are not merely abstract ideals; they are foundational principles of our Republic. As John Adams said, we are “a nation of laws, not men.” Our laws must be followed, and they must be enforced equally for all. Scripture repeatedly commands Christians to “not pervert justice or show partiality” (Deuteronomy 16:19), and this principle has guided the United States throughout its history. Yet today, our justice system too often fails to follow this command. As we have seen with recent federal attempts to enforce our nation’s laws, persons who have flagrantly and intentionally interfered with law enforcement have received little or no punishment. Allowing the Rule of Law to be subverted threatens the safety of every Oklahoman and is entirely unacceptable.

Oklahoma does not need any more turnpikes. Whether they cut through family-owned farms or ranches or through suburban neighborhoods, we do not need the OTA to have more roads under its control. Public highways should remain open to all citizens of Oklahoma, free of tolls and accessible to everyone.