Bill allowing permitless concealed carry passes headed to Arkansas governor's desk

It's not much of a surprise. Frankly, when the General Assembly passed Act 746 of 2013*, they added the phrase "with the intent to use it unlawfully against a person*," which made us a permitless carry state. I'm not sure they really meant to, but that's what happened. The Arkansas Court of Appeals realized that in a case called Taff v. State a few years later, but the General Assembly has never revisited that law or tried to "correct" it.

* = To the best of my memory. No promises.
 
Spats McGee said:
It's not much of a surprise. Frankly, when the General Assembly passed Act 746 of 2013*, they added the phrase "with the intent to use it unlawfully against a person*," they made us a permitless carry state. They didn't realize it at the time, but that's what happened.

* = To the best of my memory. No promises.
Click to expand...


So, has it been counted as one of the 26 Constitutional Carry states or is it now #27?
 
It’s my understanding that the states sheriffs association and prominent members tried to push hard to keep this from happening. A lot of troopers don’t like it either. But it’s what’s best for the citizens of the state that matters.
 
So, the race is now between NC, SC, and NE, from the top of my head for next in line.
We could see a 30/20 split before the end of the year.

I well remember when Florida opened the "flood gates" with "Shall Issue" in the 80s. "Our" world in the gun community keeps changing. Typically for the better of late, but, sadly, that just seems to make it all the darker where those changes have not occurred, or gone the other way.

Support your State "rights" groups, people.
 
Police in urban areas wanted to have the ability to take in someone carrying without a permit, even if they didn't have a disqualifying record for having a gun. Many folks carry 'illegally' for protection as they don't trust police. The law affects more than the carry by the typical gun world. It will affect urban carry and police response to such. A somewhat related example was in San Antonio. Long arm carry was state permitted in TX. However, gang members (with no disqualifying convictions) were known to carry the $100 SKS rifles at that time. The city had a local ordinance forbidding that and said they would enforce it even if the state allowed it. The gun rights folks (not the gangs) took them to court and won. Did that change any crime stats? Don't know.
 
Aim1 said:
has it been counted as one of the 26 Constitutional Carry states or is it now #27?
Click to expand...
If you use handgunlaw.us as your source, Arkansas has been in the count of 25 (going to 26 July 1 with Florida).
Looking forward to the new law, so I can modify my Constitutional Carry slides accordingly.

Further, the linked news article adds FUD to the world by saying:
opponents have questioned the impact the legislation would have on a 2017 law that allows concealed handguns in certain locations, including the state Capitol. That law allows guns in previously-barred locations if someone undergoes additional training and gets an “enhanced” permit.
Click to expand...

That is silliness coughed up by Dems opposing the bill.
Here is the entire text of the bill, SB 480:
Arkansas Code Title 5, Chapter 73, Subchapter 3, is amended to add an additional section to read as follows:
5-73-328. Purpose and construction of subchapter
(a) The purpose of this subchapter is solely to establish concealed carry licensing for the purpose of providing licensees reciprocity in other states that require a license to carry a concealed handgun in order to carry a concealed handgun
(b) This subchapter does not require a person to obtain a license to carry a concealed handgun in order to carry a concealed handgun in this state.
Click to expand...

The laws forbidding carrying in specified areas, such as establishments serving alcohol, airport terminals, and government offices, as well as the law establishing the enhanced CHCL, which allows for carry in government offices, public university campuses, public areas of airport terminals, and establishments serving alcohol, all remain on the books.

Therefore, it will still be wise for Arkansas residents to get a Basic CHCL not only for reciprocity out of state, but also, to be eligible for the Enhanced CHCL, with its added privileges.

All that said, I will not be surprised to see folks try to use permitless carry at the State Capitol and other prohibited places for the first year or so of the new law.
 
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Craig_VA said:
Therefore, it will still be wise for Arkansas residents to get a Basic CHCL not only for reciprocity out of state, but also, to be eligible for the Enhanced CHCL, with its added privileges.
Click to expand...
Agreed. I think a lot of good comes from the education that accompanies both the basic and enhanced CC license. But I'm glad they made the law unambiguous too.
 
wayneinFL said:
Yeah, it's only like 41% of the population. We've gotten nowhere. Absurd.
Click to expand...

We're getting there, albeit, slowly. With Ohio, now FL, and soon the Carolinas, the more populated states are coming over to the right side.
 
Aim1 said:
So, has it been counted as one of the 26 Constitutional Carry states or is it now #27?
Click to expand...

We`ve been Constitutional Carry for a couple years now, so I believe it still just 26.
I still carry concealed and keep my CCL just for when traveling to other states.

nra.jpg
 
wayneinFL said:
that SA-35 looks like a Hi-Power clone. How do you like it?
Click to expand...
Yes, the Springfield SA-35 is a modern Hi-Power clone, and I absolutely love it. Springfield's design improvements include an improved magazine well for easier mag insertion, removal of the mag trigger lock resulting in a much smoother trigger then older Hi-powers, and providing 15 round mags, apparently made by Mec-Gar, while still accepting Hi-Power 13 round mags. There are other threads in on THR about the SA-35.
 
wayneinFL said:
Yeah, it's only like 41% of the population. We've gotten nowhere. Absurd.
Click to expand...

Its only 4 of the 10 largest cities, and of those other 6 most are effectively no-carry. The national capital is no-carry. The point is they key areas that matter are mostly no-carry.
 
Paul7 said:
We do have the second and third largest states now with constitutional carry, TX & FL.
Click to expand...

Which is meaningless when the 1st and 4th largest states are not only not constitutional carry, but are effectively no-carry.

I would rather have a nationally valid permit than be able to carry in about half the states, many of which are of marginal importance or interest.
 
Will Munny said:
Its only 4 of the 10 largest cities, and of those other 6 most are effectively no-carry. The national capital is no-carry. The point is they key areas that matter are mostly no-carry.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's only like 40% of the largest cities. We've gotten nowhere. Absurd.
 
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