By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
Gun laws in Arkansas may be in for an overhaul, according to KATV News, as a study is currently underway involving the state Legislative Council’s Game and Fish and State Police Subcommittee continues its study of current statutes.
A 51-page draft report showing current recommendations has been released by the subcommittee. It covers everything from changes in hunting regulations to lawful concealed carry. It appears the goal is uniformity, although the state already has a preemption statute.
According to KATV, gun control advocates “are concerned that the study may lead to looser restrictions.” But where some might consider changes to the gun laws to be “expansions,” others might view any changes as efforts to restore rights which had previously been restricted.
According to the draft report, the process was set in motion in August 2023 by the Legislative Council. The study was to have been completed by Oct. 1, but KATV noted the subcommittee has asked an extension to Oct. 17.
“The purpose of the study is to review the existing laws of the State of Arkansas concerning ownership, use, and possession of firearms as well as the concealed carry laws of the state, in order to ascertain the exiting rights and restrictions under the laws and recommend legislation to these laws as necessary to clarify the rights and restrictions of citizens of the State of Arkansas with regard to laws concerning firearms and concealed carry of firearms,” the draft report said.
Among the draft recommendations is one to move from two concealed carry licensing schemes to a single rule. Another is to “Remove school bus stops from the list of prohibited carry locations.”
A third suggestion is to change the language of the new concealed carry licensing scheme so it clarifies that the license allows an armed citizen to carry in certain state buildings.
Also on the list of recommendations is one that would prohibit cities and counties from enacting firearms regulations that are more restrictive than state law.
A proposal to clarify lawful carry on private and public universities and colleges is also part of the report.
