Kern stopped from carrying gun into Capitol

By John Greiner

State Rep. Sally Kern was stopped from carrying a gun into the Capitol today in an incident that she and state troopers describe as an accidental oversight in her part.

Not realizing she had her pistol, Kern started into the Capitol Wednesday, was turned back and allowed to put the weapon into her automobile, she confirmed.

Capt. Chris West of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said she was asked to secure her weapon outside when guards discovered that she had a weapon in her purse.

"I'm out of the habit of being at the Capitol, had a meeting at 10 a.m.," Kern said.

She put her purse on the security machine that X-rays purses and other bags of people coming into the Capitol. That's when the gun was discovered.

She has a permit to carry a concealed weapon, West said.

"We didn't feel like that was a malicious act," West said.