Weekly Spotlight 5/30/24 – 6/6/24
Arkansas Law Will Expand Concealed Carry Locations With Enhanced Training
In Arkansas, Governor Asa Hutchinson recently signed a bill that will expand concealed carry rights throughout the state beginning this fall. The bill, HB 1249, will allow Arkansans who receive an additional eight hours of education and training to concealed carry in state institutions of higher education, sporting stadiums, airports, and even the Arkansas Capitol building.
This new law is a positive step in the right direction and further protects the rights of law-abiding Americans. “Gun-free zones” are ineffective in curbing gun violence. Data shows that schools, businesses, and locations that advertise themselves as “gun-free” aren’t keeping themselves safe but are doing the exact opposite of their intended effect. As we know, criminals do not follow the law, so one intending to cause harm with a firearm will be undeterred by current laws in place prohibiting guns. In fact, many of these locations are vulnerable, unprotected areas that criminals choose to target, knowing they won’t face armed opposition.
In many states throughout the country, there has been a troubling trend of limiting Americans’ Second Amendment rights in a misguided effort to make communities safer. HB 1249, allows law-abiding, educated, and trained gun owners to concealed carry freely and safely as they see fit and demonstrates that the tides are turning in the favor of pro-gun Americans.
As these types of bills continue to grow in popularity across the country, responsible gun owners should remain educated and engaged on the most pressing issues at the state and federal levels. The USCCA-FSL Action Fund is here to equip you to be your own strongest advocate.
Join us in advocating for sensible legislative solutions that
protect our freedoms and help save lives!
OTHER NEWS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
- 1819 News (Alabama): ‘I Don’t Think That Constitutional Carry Has Had A Bearing On Crime’: State Rep. Ingram, Montgomery Mayor’s Office At Odds Over Alabama Gun Laws
State Rep. Reed Ingram (R-Pike Road) took aim at Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed and other Montgomery leadership, announcing plans to file legislation allowing the state to appoint a police chief if a municipality’s crime rate exceeds a certain level. Over the weekend, Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed’s chief of staff Chip Hill took to social media, asking followers to contact Ingram about a bill that Ingram teased towards the end of the 2024 legislative session. Ingram never filed the bill, but according to WSFA, Ingram wanted to address holes in the state’s 2022 constitutional carry legislation.
Spotlight Delaware: Delaware Joins Permit-To-Purchase States, Faces Legal Challenge
While Delaware became the 11th state to enact a permit-to-purchase law by a stroke of Gov. John Carney’s pen Thursday, a legal challenge by gun owners will determine whether it will last. Flanked by Democratic legislators and gun control advocates at a Legislative Hall signing of Senate Bill 2, Carney said the bill that requires a handgun purchaser to complete a safety training and undergo a background check before taking ownership of a weapon could make real progress in making communities safer statewide.
- The Truth About Guns: Georgia’s Attorney General Puts Stop To City Of Savannah’s Anti-Gun Shenanigans
Recently, anti-gun doofuses on Savannah, Georgia’s city council thought it would be cute to pass some local gun control ordinances. On the surface, the ordinances seemed fairly reasonable. One tells people in the city to secure firearms in a vehicle that’s unoccupied (a generally good idea). Another requires people to report stolen guns to law enforcement (again, a good idea).
Back in 2017, Honolulu’s police chief abandoned a contentious plan to confiscate firearms from residents who use marijuana for medical purposes, which the state has allowed since 2000. But law enforcement agencies still reject applications for the permits required to legally possess guns in Hawaii when the would-be owners have state-issued medical marijuana cards. Last year, according to a recent report from the state attorney general’s office, that was by far the most common reason for denying gun permits, accounting for two-fifths of rejections.
###