Here comes the test case. A Bald Knob man was arrested earlier this week after he openly carried a handgun in McDonald’s and other Bald Knob stores. Like Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin, Richard Chambless told KATV that he believes a 2013 law intended to clean up statutory provisions on allowing people to carry a weapon “on a journey” allows him to openly carry firearms.
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“As long as you don’t have unlawful intent, it is not a crime to carry a handgun in self defense, and that’s what I was doing. I was out shopping in town, stopped here to get a drink of water carrying my weapon and went to jail for it,” said Chambless.
Police arrested him for disorderly conduct and carrying a firearm. The police chief read Chambless sections of the Arkansas Code, only to have Chambless recite back to him Act 746. The majority of the 15 minute interview was calm, but frustration clearly mounted with both sides talking over each other, sticking to their guns about open carry.
At one point, the police chief had enough of the back and forth yelling, “Listen to me. Shut up and let me talk. What I want you to do is, bring your evidence and come to my prosecutor and judge and let them explain to you that you broke the law. Do you understand? You have the right to remain silent. Exercise it.”