LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A Monday afternoon legislative meeting focused on Arkansas gun rights came with a handful of recommendations from Attorney General Tim Griffin’s office.
The first recommendation was to keep Arkansas law as it is, which means allowing people with licenses to carry in a school zone but not a school building. This differs from federal law, which prohibits guns completely in school zones.
The attorney general’s representatives also said no changes are necessary to the journey law, which allows a person over the age of 18 to have a firearm outside of their home or property.
Finally, Griffin’s team suggested lawmakers study changing Arkansas law to allow someone who’s been involuntarily admitted to a mental health institution to have a path forward to reobtain gun rights. The law, as it stands, gives this group of people no right to have a license after leaving the facility.
Sen. Justin Boyd (R-Fort Smith) told KARK 4 News he would have to take a close look at any Arkansas codes up for consideration before making any changes but does feel there should be a path forward for this group of people.
“For the state to just blanket say, ‘There is no second chance.’ is problematic,” Boyd said.
Lawmakers passed the recommendation to study this possible amendment to Arkansas law.
Rep. Tippi McCullough (D-Little Rock) said her focus in the future is clearer laws when it comes to Arkansas gun rights, and making sure they are more safely secured to stay out of the hands of children. She said these are all realistic goals she could see the legislature considering in future meetings.
“I’m probably always going to fall on the side of more safe, less guns,” McCullough said.
