Arkansas Looks to Expand Gun Rights

by
posted on January 7, 2019
arkansas.jpg

Arkansas politicians apparently aren’t content to sit idly by while anti-gun sentiment runs amok in Washington, D.C. Instead, they pledge to take a firm stand to protect the rights of gun owners in their state once the new legislative session opens Jan. 14.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that while there is some push for infringing on Second Amendment rights as Democrats vow to push for a so-called red-flag law that would allow gun confiscation with little or no due process, Republican lawmakers plan to counter that by expanding gun rights.

Republicans plan to start with something as simple as a bill that would proclaim the shotgun as the state gun, but make no mistake—they have plans for strengthening the right to carry, too.

State Sen. Trent Garner, R-El Dorado, said he plans to investigate carry legislation by finding a way to allow holders of an “enhanced” carry permit to be armed in public buildings. He would also like to find a way to expedite the process for obtaining a permit to carry. One step in that direction is included in a bill that was filed ahead of the 2019 session that would halve the fee for carry permit.

Apparently Rep. Jim Dotson, R-Bentonville, and Garner—who are sponsoring the reduced-fee bill—understand that when you have exorbitant fees that bar many citizens from even thinking about applying for the right to carry, you are doing people who are struggling to get by a disservice.

Politicians are also bandying about the idea of clarifying the state’s position on open carry. You might recall that in 2017, Gov. Asa Hutchinson told state police that open carry is legal, based on a 2013 law. But some people have questioned whether the law in question really carries that much weight. That is a muddied picture that legislators hope to clear up.

Latest

The Armed Citizen
The Armed Citizen

The Armed Citizen® November 22, 2024

True stories of the right to keep and bear arms

Now They Want to Use Toy Gun Control as an Excuse for Actual Gun Bans?

Some gun-control “experts” really want to ban young adults from lawfully possessing firearms by citing old state laws that include regulations on toy guns.

This Olympian Has Something Important to Say

Vincent Hancock has a lot to say, but most people just want to know how he accomplished all he has.

From the Editor | The Bullseye

We all need range time, but this day at the range brought more than expected.

Standing Guard | The NRA Comeback

The backbone of the NRA is its millions of members.

What Will 2025 Bring?

The future should hold more victories than defeats throughout the courts.



Get the best of America's 1st Freedom delivered to your inbox.