Elected officials, law enforcement, members of Gun Owners of Arkansas and the community turned out for an educational forum on current gun legislation. The event, “Guns in the Fort”, was held at the safe room at Ben Geren Park on Saturday, August 14 at 3 p.m.
The forum was well-attended and featured panelists Attorney Whitfield Hyman, Scott County Deputy Prosecutor and Attorney Travis Plummer, State Representative Marcus Richmond, State Representative Justin Boyd, State Representative Brandt Smith, Prosecutor for the City of Fort Smith, Sam Terry, Sebastian County Sheriff Hobe Runion, and Michelle Lynn Pincumbe Carnahan, Sebastian County Coordinator for Judge Chris Carnahan, candidate for Arkansas State Supreme Court.
Also present, several candidates for the upcoming 2022 election, including Clint McPherson, an announced candidate for Scott County Sheriff, Joe Pearson, a candidate for Senate, District 16, and two candidates for Crawford County Sheriff, Wayne Sandusky and current Mulberry Police Chief Shannon Gregory.
GO-AR President Gary Epperson welcomed those in attendance. Epperson proceeded to recognize the outstanding board members for their hard work and dedication. Those members include Dallas Green, D-Fo Ray, Brad Anderson, Junior Ainsworth and Dan Borum. Outstanding member, Wayne Helms, was recognized for his tireless efforts and was presented a GO-AR t-shirt and hat.
Epperson then turned the program over to board member, Dan Borum. Borum led those in attendance in prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Next, Borum introduced the panelists and speaker, Sebastian County Prosecutor Daniel Shue.
(photo courtesy of Wayne Helms)
Shue presented a slide show featuring firearms legislation passed in the 93rd General Assembly. Those included:
- Act 250 removes the requirement to retreat before a person may legitimately defend themselves.
- Act 433 removes the prohibition on the possession of loaded centerfire weapons in parts of Baxter and Benton counties.
- Act 809 removes the requirement for an employee, who stores their gun in their locked car in a parking lot, from being in a separate locked container.
- Act 1024 removes the prohibition on carrying in places owned, controlled, or operated by a local unit of government, if they have a carry permit, except for the following:
(i) A courtroom or the location of an administrative hearing conducted by a state agency, except as permitted by § 5-73-306(5) or § 5-73-306(6);
(ii) A public school kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12), a public prekindergarten, or a public daycare facility, except as permitted under subdivision (a)(3)(C) of this section;
(iii) A facility operated by the Division of Correction or the Division of Community Correction; or
(iv) A posted firearm-sensitive area, as approved by the Division of Arkansas State Police under § 5-73-325, located at:- (a) The Arkansas State Hospital;
- (b) The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; or
- (c) A collegiate athletic event
- Act 872
TO BE KNOWN AS THE “INTRASTATE FIREARMS PROTECTION ACT”; AND TO PREVENT THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT FROM REGULATING THE MANUFACTURE, ASSEMBLY, AND TRADE OF FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION WITHIN THE BORDERS OF ARKANSAS.
A personal firearm, a firearms accessory, or ammunition that is manufactured commercially or privately in Arkansas and that remains within the borders of Arkansas is not subject to federal law or federal regulation, including registration, under the authority of the United States Congress to regulate interstate commerce, as those items have not traveled in interstate commerce. - Act 638
PERMITTING A CONCEALED HANDGUN LICENSEE TO CARRY A CONCEALED HANDGUN IN A MUNICIPALLY OWNED OR MAINTAINED PARK.
If the person has a license to carry a concealed handgun under § 5-73-301 et seq. and is carrying a concealed handgun in a municipally owned or maintained park, or another similar municipally owned or maintained recreational property, except for those portions of a municipally owned or maintained park or recreational property that contain a:
(i) Football field, baseball field, soccer field, or other sports field where an athletic event or practice is occurring at the time;
(ii) Municipally owned or maintained building; or
(iii) Leased area to be used for a special event. - Act 693
TO AMEND § 5-73-122; AND CONCERNING THE DEFINITION OF “FACILITY” AS IT IS USED IN REGARD TO THE POSSESSION OF A FIREARM.
Arkansas Code § 5-73-122(a)(4), concerning the definition of “facility” as it is used in regard to the offense of carrying a firearm in publicly owned buildings or facilities, is amended to read as follows:
As used in this section, “facility” does not mean a municipally owned or maintained park, football field, baseball field, soccer field, or another similar municipally owned or maintained recreational structure or property. - Act 956
TO DEFINE “VEHICLE” AS AN EXTENSION OF A PERSON’S HOME; AND TO DEFINE THE TERM “JOURNEY” ACROSS ALL APPLICABLE LAWS.
Arkansas Code § 5-73-101, concerning definitions to be used in regard to weapons, is amended to add additional subdivisions to read as follows:
(12) “Journey” means a person has left his or her home or the curtilage of his or her home either on foot, horseback, bicycle, or in an automobile for any purpose or duration; and
(13) “Vehicle” means any automobile and is considered an extension of a person’s home, with any protections that conveys. - Act 631
PERMITTING A PERSON CONVICTED OF AN ANTITRUST VIOLATION OR OTHER UNLAWFUL BUSINESS PRACTICE TO LAWFULLY POSSESS A FIREARM UNDER STATE LAW.
It is “unlawful for any person … who has been convicted in any court of, a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year … to … possess in or affecting commerce, any firearm or ammunition; or to receive any firearm or ammunition which has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce” - Act 948
PERMITTING AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN TO POSSESS AND CARRY A CONCEALED HANDGUN WITHOUT A LICENSE TO CARRY A CONCEALED HANDGUN.
An emergency medical technician may carry a concealed handgun at any time if the EMT is working as an EMT, if the employer approves, and is carrying proper identification.
GO-AR sponsor FSAAP donated two shotguns, which were given away in a drawing for members. Other sponsors included Chaffee Outfitters, Ken Ratcliff, Alma Gunworks, and Resident News.
