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Welcome back to Meteorology Matters.

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You know we love diving into the latest weather news

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and this time, this time we're looking at something

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pretty controversial brewing in Oklahoma.

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Oh yeah.

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They're considering a law that would require

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storm chasers to be licensed.

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Hmm, interesting.

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So is this gonna make chasing safer

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or is it just gonna create a bureaucratic nightmare?

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What do you think?

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Well, that's what we're here to figure out, right?

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Yeah.

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I've been looking into this Oklahoma Senate Bill 158.

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Okay.

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It's officially called

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Oklahoma Emergency Weather Response

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and Tracking Regulatory Act of 2025.

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Wow.

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That's a mouthful.

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It is, isn't it?

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And it has some really interesting details

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that I think we should break down.

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To help us do that, I've invited an expert

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in legal and policy issues surrounding weather phenomena.

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Thanks for having me, glad to be here.

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So this bill, it lays out some specific requirements

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for storm chasers.

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Like imagine getting your driver's license

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but for severe weather.

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Okay.

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So you'd need to pass a criminal background check.

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Right, makes sense.

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You'd also need to show proof of insurance

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for your chase vehicle.

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Yeah, things can get a little bumpy out there.

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Yeah, definitely not a smooth ride.

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And here's where it gets interesting.

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You'd need a letter of endorsement

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from a chief meteorologist or a designated official.

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Almost like an academic reference, but for tornadoes.

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Exactly.

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Wow.

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And then of course there's a fee.

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There's always a fee.

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$500 upfront for the license

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and then $250 every year to renew it.

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Okay, so who exactly are they targeting with this?

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Like is this for everyone who chases a storm?

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Well, Bill specifically defines

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a professional severe weather tracker.

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Oh, right.

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As anyone who's paid by media outlets.

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Okay.

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Think your local news

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or folks working with university research programs.

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So they're trying to separate the pros from the hobbyists.

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Exactly.

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And Senator Mann, who introduced the bill,

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says it's all about safety.

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Oh, okay.

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The goal is to get inexperienced chasers off the roads.

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So less congestion, less danger.

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That's the idea.

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Yeah.

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But Senator Mann also suggests

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a licensed chasers could actually function

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as a kind of first responder network.

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Interesting.

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So like providing real-time data observations

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during a severe weather event.

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Exactly.

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They could even be allowed to use emergency lights.

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Wow.

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And access closed roads

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to get to hard hit areas quickly.

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Well, that's a pretty big responsibility.

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But how would that even work in practice?

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Right.

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Like during a chaotic event, like a tornado,

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would a police officer really stop someone

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in the middle of a hailstorm

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to check their storm chasing license?

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Yeah.

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I mean, it's a good question.

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It does seem like enforcement could be tricky.

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Yeah.

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And what about, you know, university researchers

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or experienced amateur chasers

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who are already out there collecting data?

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Right.

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Would they need a license too?

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It feels like this could really restrict important scientific

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observation and research.

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And then there's the whole bureaucracy of it.

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Oh, yeah.

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You mentioned the fees, but what about the paperwork,

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the background checks?

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The documentation, could it become so overwhelming

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that people just say, forget it?

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Right.

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And then nobody's chasing storms.

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Right.

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These are all really good points.

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And it sounds like there are definitely two sides

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to this story.

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Definitely.

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And we're not the only ones with questions.

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Mike Morgan, the chief meteorologist over at KFOR,

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you know him.

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He's voiced his skepticism too.

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About?

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Well, he's concerned about how they would even enforce

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this law and the impact it could have on experienced

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chasers who are already operating safely and responsibly.

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So if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

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Pretty much.

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He's advocating for more discussion and revisions

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before they actually pass this thing.

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And you know, it's interesting, this bill popped up

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right after that movie Twisters hit theaters.

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Oh, wow.

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You remember that one?

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Yeah.

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It got everyone talking about storm chasing again.

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Makes you wonder if the timing is just a coincidence

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or if they're worried about a bunch of inexperienced

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chasers hitting the roads, you know,

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fueled by all the Hollywood excitement.

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Yeah, trying to find that balance, right?

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Yeah.

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How do you ensure safety without discouraging people

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who are genuinely passionate about studying severe weather?

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Right.

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And contributing to scientific knowledge.

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It's a tough question.

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It is.

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Storm chasers, they provide such valuable data.

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Yeah.

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Often capturing footage that helps us understand

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these phenomena so much better.

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Plus, they keep the public informed about dangerous weather.

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Exactly.

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So we don't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater,

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you know?

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Definitely not.

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We'll be right back after a quick word

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from our sponsors to continue this discussion.

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And don't forget to follow meteorologist Rob Jones

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on Instagram.

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What's his handle?

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At meteorologist on TikTok, at TV meteorologist.

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And on YouTube, follow Rob Jones' Hurricane,

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where you can also find meteorology matters

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in the podcast playlist.

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Perfect.

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We'll be right back.

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You know, it's fascinating to think

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about how storm chasing has changed over time.

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Yeah.

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How so?

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Well, it used to be this niche field, you know?

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Almost like a secret society of researchers and adventurers.

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Right.

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But technology has really changed everything.

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Oh, absolutely.

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I mean, with today's advanced radar, smartphones,

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social media, it's like anyone can become a storm chaser.

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Exactly.

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And as it becomes more accessible,

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it's only natural that we start to worry about safety more.

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You know?

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Yeah.

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That makes sense.

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We've seen this pattern before.

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Think about seatbelt laws.

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It took time, public awareness, and eventually legislation

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to change behavior and make roads safer.

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OK.

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This bill, it could be seen as a similar effort, you know?

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Trying to regulate something that's

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becoming more popular and potentially dangerous.

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Exactly.

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All right.

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So let's say this bill actually becomes law in Oklahoma.

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OK.

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What would getting a storm chasing license even look like?

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Like, what would the process be?

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Well, according to the bill, Oklahoma

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would be in charge of this new program.

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Service Oklahoma.

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Yeah, the agency that handles all those different licenses

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and permits.

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So let's say you're an aspiring storm chaser.

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You've got your gear ready.

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You're passionate about whether you're

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ready for an adventure.

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OK.

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What's the first step?

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What is it?

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You gather your documentation.

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You'll need proof of insurance, that letter of endorsement

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from a chief meteorologist.

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Right.

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Anything else service Oklahoma requires.

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Gotcha.

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And then you submit your application, pay the non-refundable

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$500 fee, and wait.

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And then what?

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The background check.

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Yep.

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They want to make sure anyone operating in these intense,

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sometimes dangerous situations has a clean record.

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Yeah.

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Makes sense, trying to mitigate the risk.

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Exactly.

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Weed out anyone who might pose a threat or abuse

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the privileges that come with the license.

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OK.

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So you've passed the background check, paid your fees,

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dotted your eyes, crossed your T's.

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You're officially a licensed storm chaser.

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All right.

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Now what?

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Well, remember how we talked about licensed chasers

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potentially acting as emergency responders?

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This bill would actually give them

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the right to use emergency lights on their vehicles.

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And even access roads that are closed due to severe weather?

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Hold on.

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So they'd be driving around with flashing lights

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just like ambulances and police cars?

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Yeah.

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That seems pretty intense.

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It is.

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And what about accessing those closed roads?

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Isn't that dangerous?

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Well, it's definitely a controversial aspect of the bill.

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Yeah, I can see that.

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On one hand, having those emergency lights being

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able to bypass those road closures

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could allow chasers to get closer to the storms,

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gather more data, potentially even help with rescue efforts

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or damage assessment.

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I see that, yeah, getting real time information

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from someone right there in the middle of a tornado's path

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could be invaluable to first responders.

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Right.

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But it also just seems risky.

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It's a delicate balance.

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Yeah.

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On the other hand, does this just

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add more vehicles to an already chaotic situation?

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Right.

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Some with flashing lights?

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Exactly.

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Could actually increase the risk for everyone.

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So the big question is, do the benefits outweigh those risks?

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Yeah.

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It's a tough call.

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It is a tough call.

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And even if a chaser's license has these privileges,

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they're still responsible for their own safety

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and the safety of others around them.

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It's a lot of responsibility.

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It is.

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And some people argue that this bill just

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creates more bureaucracy without actually

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addressing those core issues of safety and responsibility

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and storm tracing.

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They think the focus should be on education training,

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promoting a culture of responsible chasing,

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rather than just focusing on licensing and regulation.

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So instead of restricting access,

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they're saying we should teach people how to chase storms

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safely.

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Exactly.

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How to read the weather, how to make smart decisions out

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in the field.

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OK.

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Because a license doesn't automatically

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equal good judgment.

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Right.

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Even the most experienced chaser can make mistakes.

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That's true.

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This whole debate reminds us that chasing storms,

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even with the best intentions, the best qualifications

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will always have risks.

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Absolutely.

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Before we wrap up our look at this proposed storm chasing law,

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we should emphasize that there's a lot more to discuss.

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Yeah, we've just scratched the surface here.

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We've looked at the requirements, the potential benefits

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and drawbacks, the concerns of experienced meteorologists,

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the historical context of storm chasing.

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But there's still more to uncover.

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Stay tuned for the final part of our discussion,

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where we'll look into the financial side of this bill,

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explore those arguments for and against it,

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and leave you with some thought-provoking questions

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to consider.

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All right, we're back and ready to tackle the financial side

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of this storm chasing law.

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Remember those fees we talked about?

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Yeah.

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$500 for the initial license, and then $250 each year

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to renew.

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Right, right.

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Well, that money, it doesn't just disappear into the state's

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general fund.

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Oh, really?

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It's actually earmarked for something specific.

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OK, what is it?

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The bill calls it the Severe Weather Tracker Licensure

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Fund.

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OK.

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And Service Oklahoma, the same agency

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that's handling the licensing fund,

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they would manage this fund.

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So basically, the money collected from storm chasers

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would be used to cover the costs of running the program.

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Exactly.

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Background checks, paperwork staff, all that fun stuff.

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So in theory, it's a self-sustaining system.

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Right.

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But is that really a legitimate way to fund a safety program?

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Right.

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Or does it just feel like the state's

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trying to make some money off of storm chasing?

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00:10:10,760 --> 00:10:11,760
That's a good question.

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Some people are arguing that these fees are excessive.

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Oh, yeah.

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Yeah, and they could actually discourage people from applying,

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especially those who are new to chasing or just doing it

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as a hobby.

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00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:22,600
I see.

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It's already an expensive hobby, right?

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Yeah.

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The equipment, the travel, the insurance.

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Right.

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Adding another $500 upfront, plus those annual renewals,

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could be a real barrier for some people.

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Yeah, that's a valid concern.

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And then there's the issue of accountability.

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Like, how do we know the money in this fund

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will actually be used properly?

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Right.

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Will it be transparent?

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00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:42,600
Exactly.

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Goes back to that balance between regulation and freedom.

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We want to ensure safety, but we don't

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want to make it impossible for people to pursue their passion.

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Especially those who are contributing valuable data

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to the scientific community.

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Right.

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So there's a strong argument on both sides.

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Definitely.

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Those who support the bill, they say the fees are necessary.

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To make sure that the licensing program is actually

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effective and comprehensive.

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They believe the safety benefits outweigh the cost.

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Right.

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And they emphasize that having trained, qualified individuals

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in the field could actually reduce the risk of accidents

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and irresponsible behavior.

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It's an investment in public safety.

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00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:25,200
Exactly.

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But then those who oppose the bill, they're skeptical.

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Yeah.

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They worry about the enforceability

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of these requirements.

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The potential for bureaucratic red tape

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and the impact on experienced chasers who are already

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out there operating safely.

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00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:39,680
Right.

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They believe that education and training, not just regulation,

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are the keys to promoting responsible storm chasing.

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00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:47,760
So where do we go from here?

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00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:48,400
Yeah.

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That's the question.

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00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:51,560
This bill is still in its early stages.

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00:11:51,560 --> 00:11:53,840
It will be interesting to see how it evolves

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and what kind of impact it ultimately

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has on the world of storm chasing.

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One thing's for sure, this whole debate

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has definitely started a conversation.

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About?

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About safety responsibility and the role

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of citizen scientists in understanding severe weather.

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Really important stuff.

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So whether this particular bill passes or not,

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these discussions are important.

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00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:18,480
And hopefully they'll lead to better practices

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00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:22,080
and increased awareness of just how complex storm chasing

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really is.

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00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:23,880
For sure.

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Well, that brings us to the end of our look at Oklahoma's proposed

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storm chasing law.

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00:12:28,200 --> 00:12:31,280
We explored a lot today from the requirements and fees

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to those potential benefits and drawbacks,

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00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:35,800
and of course, the arguments on both sides.

402
00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:36,640
Absolutely.

403
00:12:36,640 --> 00:12:39,880
And we also touched on the history of storm chasing,

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00:12:39,880 --> 00:12:43,760
the impact of technology that balance between regulation

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and freedom.

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00:12:44,560 --> 00:12:45,920
It's fascinating stuff.

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We always encourage you to think critically

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about what we discuss and form your own opinions.

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Would you support this law?

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00:12:52,040 --> 00:12:53,480
What other solutions do you think

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might address these safety concerns?

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00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:56,680
Great questions to think about.

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And if you want to delve deeper into the world of weather,

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00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:02,280
be sure to follow meteorologist Rob Jones.

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00:13:02,280 --> 00:13:04,920
You can find him on Instagram at meteorologistontiktock

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00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:06,600
at TV meteorologist.

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00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:09,440
And on YouTube, follow Rob Jones' Hurricane,

418
00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:11,640
where you can also find meteorology matters

419
00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:13,240
in the podcast playlist.

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00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:15,960
Thanks for joining us on this episode of Meteorology Matters.

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Until next time, stay safe, stay curious,

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and keep your eyes on the skies.