FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: State Rep. Jeff Hickman
Capitol: (405) 557-7339
Dacoma: (580) 748-0417
Statement by Rep. Jeff Hickman
OKLAHOMA CITY (August 18, 2005) - State Rep. Jeff Hickman (R-Dacoma),
issued a statement regarding the plan announced today to close 59
National Guard facilities in Oklahoma:
"I'm very concerned about the ability of the Oklahoma National Guard to
respond quickly to natural disasters, acts of terrorism or other
emergencies in northwest Oklahoma if we don't have a single armory or
any personnel stationed between Enid and the state of New Mexico. It is
the responsibility of the state to provide for the safety and protection
of all of our tax-paying citizens, regardless of which corner of the
state they live in or how far they may be from an interstate highway.
"When it comes to state facilities, Governor Henry has the final say on
whether these Oklahoma armories are closed, regardless of the BRAC
Commission's recommendations. In fact, the decision was made to keep
open armories in Okmulgee, Edmond, Chickasha and Tonkawa despite the
BRAC Commission recommending they be closed. It is disappointing that
all three armories in my district - in Alva, Woodward and Cherokee -
remain on the BRAC closure list. I hope the Governor will also
reconsider keeping at least one armory somewhere in the middle of the
more than 300 miles of our state from Enid to the end of the panhandle
that will be unprotected with no National Guard facilities."
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