Gun control advocates and Second Amendment activists spoke Monday before an Arkansas legislative committee working on proposals for legislation which, if adopted next year, would make it legal to carry guns in places including school grounds and courthouses.
They promoted draft legislation submitted in a report earlier this month that is the outcome of a year-long-plus study examining the state’s gun laws. The report was produced by Sen. Ricky Hill, R-Cabot, and Rep. Josh Miller, R-Heber Springs, co-chairs of the Game and Fish/State Police Subcommittee.
It recommends removing bans on carrying guns in places including K-12 schools, school bus stops, state colleges and universities, parades or demonstrations and “meetings of (government) entities.”
The report also suggests reducing penalties for violating existing gun laws and evaluating a path to restoring gun rights to people previously involuntarily committed.
The subcommittee on Monday clarified language to permit carrying firearms in courthouses and on “journeys.”