The legislative session is restricted to budget matters unless both houses allow consideration of non-budget matters by two-thirds votes. Which brings us to guns.

Legislators are spoiling to put gun legislation on the agenda. The gun lobby wants to change the new campus/courthouse/tavern/church/wherever concealed carry law to drop a requirement that those who teach courses for a concealed carry permit must  teach both the basic and enhanced permit class. The latter is necessary for concealed carry in an expanded list of places, including, particularly, college campuses. I have no dog in this hunt.

Advertisement

The real fight is the effort by some Democratic legislators to clear up particularly bad drafting in the college gun bill. The law prohibits “storage” of a weapon in college dorms, but doesn’t prevent people from walking into, through and around college dorm rooms with guns. How would you like to unpack for your freshman year and see the outline of a Glock beneath your roommate’s Go Hogs nightshirt?

The NRA has signaled it will not stand for common-sense editing of the college gun bill.  Its political arm circulated this message to legislators:

Advertisement

Senate Resolution 10 is anti-gun language that seeks to roll back the personal protection legislation that was signed into law last year by Governor Asa Hutchinson. SR 10 would prohibit law-abiding individuals with a valid enhanced carry permit from carrying a firearm for self-defense onto public college and university campuses.

This is a lie.

First of all, the proposal does not “roll back” legislation. It would clarify one provision. But most important: It would NOT prohibit people with the proper permit from “carrying a firearm for self-defense” onto campuses.  (Sorry to say.) It WOULD prohibit guns in dorm ROOMS or suites. If facts matter, here’s the pertinent amendment in SR 10.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Invest in the future of great journalism in Arkansas

Join the ranks of the 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 daily email blasts who know that the Arkansas Times is the go-to source for tough, determined, and feisty journalism that holds the powerful accountable. For 50 years, our progressive, alternative newspaper in Little Rock has been on the front lines of the fight for truth, and with your support, we can do even more. By subscribing or donating to the Arkansas Times, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be helping us hire more writers and expand our coverage. Don't miss out on the opportunity to make a difference with your subscription or donation to the Arkansas Times today.

Previous article A choice, not an echo, in GOP Senate runoff Next article A Democratic convert aims at Northwest Arkansas legislative seat