[ad_1]
A second attempt to get a controversial “stand-your-ground” bill out of the House Judiciary Committee succeeded Tuesday, after members of the committee beat back an attempt to amend the bill in a way to appease gun owners.
The vote sends Senate Bill 24, which would eliminate the duty to retreat from Arkansas’ self-defense laws, to the House floor. A favorable vote there would send the bill to Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who has not said whether he will sign it.
The bill became stalled in the House Judiciary Committee earlier this month when an initial vote was defeated by several Republicans who joined Democrats in opposition to the measure.
While Democrats and gun-control activists argued that the bill would cause needless violence, particularly against members of minority groups, its GOP opponents cited opposition from a group of gun owners who said the bill did not go far enough in granting leeway to use their weapons in public spaces.
The House sponsor of SB24, Rep. Aaron Pilkington, R-Clarksville, returned with an amendment to the bill Tuesday that was worked out with the gun owners. The amendment would have allowed someone with a gun who was illegally trespassing in an area where guns are prohibited to use his weapon in self-defense, as long as he was not committing a more serious felony.
Dallas Green, a representative of the group Gun Owners of Arkansas that worked with Pilkington on the amendment, testified before the committee: “We believe that our creator grants us the right to defend our lives without regard to our location.”
Pilkington’s amendment, however, drew the opposition of the state’s prosecutors, who had previously been neutral on SB24.
Nathan Smith, the president of the Arkansas Prosecuting Attorneys Association, said the amendment would create confusion and potentially allow a trespasser to shoot a property owner if the trespasser felt that his life was threatened.
“We believe stand-your-ground, if it is passed, should only benefit law-abiding Arkansans,” Smith said.
The amendment was ultimately defeated when two Republicans — Rep. Stan Berry of Dover and Rep. Keith Slape of Compton — joined Democrats to defeat the proposed change.
After Pilkington went ahead with presenting the original version of the bill, Republicans stuck together and passed the bill on a 10-9, party-line vote.
“I’m happy to see it passed” out of the committee, Pilkington said later Tuesday. “I was really shocked to see the amount of opposition to the amendment.”
Hutchinson declined to comment on the committee vote, according to his spokeswoman.
Opponents of SB24 include Democrats, Black and disability-rights activists, as well as gun-control groups who point to a range of studies linking stand-your-ground-type laws to increases in gun deaths, particularly among minority groups.
A review of “stand your ground” laws enacted in surrounding states was published Monday in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. The review found that five of the six neighboring states experienced increased rates of gun deaths after lawmakers passed “stand your ground” measures. The Democrat-Gazette’s review included all types of gun deaths except for suicide. Without a more detailed analysis, it is impossible for the newspaper to state that the federal data alone shows that stand-your-ground laws caused increases in gun-violence deaths in those states.
“Our laws adequately protect where life is in imminent danger. … Opponents justifiably claim that such laws are a license to kill,” said Rachel Luckett, a representative of Pine Bluff Mayor Shirley Washington.
The Arkansas Chapter of Moms Demand Action, a pro-gun-control group, released a statement after the committee vote stating that SB24 “would allow vigilantes and extremists to shoot first and ask questions later, weaken gun laws, make Arkansas less safe and have disparate impacts on people of color.”
During the meeting, however, Republicans moved to limit more than a dozen opponents of the bill who had signed up to speak against it to seven minutes of speaking time, pointing to another hearing earlier this month where many of the same activists spent hours pillorying the bill.
“I think we’ve heard just about everything that needs to be heard,” said Rep. Marcus Richmond, R-Gravelly.
Later Tuesday, Gun Owners of Arkansas, the group that opposed the original version of SB24, urged members of its Facebook page to “join us in Contacting the House Members immediately” ahead of a potential floor vote this week.
Pilkington said SB24 could be taken to the floor today or Thursday.
He added that he was “pretty confident that it will pass out of the House,” despite weeks of opposition from groups such as Gun Owners of Arkansas that resulted in no changes. The bill as currently written is supported by the National Rifle Association.
[ad_2]
Source link
997468 260873Spot up for this write-up, I actually feel this outstanding website requirements a good deal more consideration. Ill much more likely be once once more to read considerably far more, thank you that details. 465543
778753 894744Looking forward to move into yet another hous?! […]Real estate busines is obtaining more and a lot more less protitable, take a look at why[…] 303049
241797 745535Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your weblog and in accession capital to assert that I get in fact enjoyed account your blog posts. Any way I will probably be subscribing to your augment and even I achievement you access consistently rapidly. 226938
784444 136570I came towards the exact conclusion as well some time ago. Fantastic write-up and I will probably be positive to appear back later for much more news. 445121
862715 971527I really like what you guys are up too. Such clever work and exposure! Maintain up the quite very good works guys Ive incorporated you guys to my own blogroll. 42286
417388 342560Id need to have to consult you here. Which isnt some thing Which i do! I enjoy reading a post that can make folks feel. Also, appreciate your permitting me to comment! 685362
376635 657126Very efficiently written story. It is going to be beneficial to anybody who employess it, including me. Keep up the good function – canr wait to read more posts. 960397
871876 307617Was koche ich heute – diese Frage stellen sich tag fuer tag viele Menschen. Und wir haben tag fuer tag die perfeckte Antwort darauf! Besuchen Sie uns auf unserer Webseite und lassen Sie sich von uns beraten . Wir freuen uns auf Sie! 222641
613352 714154I entirely agree! I came more than from google and am searching to subscribe. Where is your RSS feed? 806890
312556 764043really nice publish, i certainly love this web internet site, carry on it 451489
139574 672103bathroom towels really should be maintained with a very good fabric conditioner so that they will last longer:: 763982
821894 92978I got what you intend, saved to bookmarks , really decent web internet site . 966884
76375 766693An fascinating discussion is worth comment. I feel that you need to write far more on this subject, it may not be a taboo subject but generally people are not enough to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers 314863
643782 282639Wow, superb weblog structure! How lengthy have you ever been blogging for? 135946
881734 292240Register a domain, search for available domains, renew and transfer domains, and pick from a wide variety of domain extensions. 535492
858519 950460Having a look ahead to look you. 564992
810832 936655Correct wow messages are bound to show your and supply memorialize the speacial couple. Beginner sound system to high in volume crowds ought to always take a appear at all with the great value behind presenting and public speaking, which is to be someones truck. very best man speeches brother 824449
975246 491865Hey, are you having issues with your hosting? I needed to refresh the page about million times to get the page to load. Just saying 979037
816102 715433An attention-grabbing discussion is worth comment. I believe which you really should write much more on this matter, it wont be a taboo topic however usually persons are not sufficient to talk on such topics. To the next. Cheers 229011
373988 832224You produced some decent points there. I looked online towards the problem and discovered a lot of people is going in addition to utilizing your web site. 793302
309169 674467Dude. You mind if I link to this post from my own internet site? This is just too awesome. 287545
361111 115102Generally I do not read post on blogs, however I would like to say that this write-up very forced me to check out and do so! Your writing taste has been surprised me. Thank you, quite fantastic post. 677663
263085 542226This web website is often a walk-through for all with the understanding you wanted concerning this and didnt know who ought to. Glimpse here, and you will totally discover it. 958980
728163 529588Your post is truly informative. A lot more than that, it??s engaging, compelling and well-written. I would desire to see even far more of these types of excellent writing. 998008
954066 854533I believe one of your commercials caused my internet browser to resize, you might well want to put that on your blacklist. 616393
305998 298763Hello. Wonderful job. I did not expect this. This is a outstanding articles. Thanks! 698394
126891 607173Some genuinely fascinating data, properly written and generally user genial . 741309