Studying Arkansas gun laws
A subcommittee of legislators is close to finishing its year-long study of Arkansas gun laws.
The study includes a package of bills to clarify the rights and restrictions of owning and carrying firearms.
Arkansas lawmakers overwhelmingly support the Second Amendment. The intent of the subcommittee’s work has been to make it easier to understand the requirements of responsible ownership of firearms. To achieve this goal, the package of legislation would repeal repetitive, confusing or conflicting provisions in current law.
The Legislative Council last year approved the study by its Game and Fish/State Police Subcommittee.
Legislation under study by the subcommittee would eliminate the current dual system of granting licenses to carry concealed firearms, and simplify the law by having only one system. Now, you can apply to the state police for either a “regular” concealed carry license or an “enhanced” concealed carry license. The attorney general recommended going to one system.
A spokesman for the attorney general told the subcommittee that having a “regular” license means little because Arkansas allows permitless carry. Act 777 of 2023 makes clear that a permit is not required to carry a concealed handgun.
Another bill in the study would prohibit cities and counties from enacting gun laws that are more restrictive than state laws.
Lawmakers also want to emphasize the rights of gun owners to carry while on a journey. To avoid confusion, a draft bill under consideration would define a journey as leaving home.
The subcommittee heard from several law enforcement agencies, as well as people who are firearms instructors, hunters and owners of firing ranges. Also providing input were people seeking stronger gun laws near schools.
Broadband funds
Arkansas has become eligible for an additional $1 billion in federal funding for grants to expand access to high-speed Internet access. This good news is especially important for schools, medical providers and businesses in isolated, rural parts of the state.
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration approved the grant funding, which is a part of what is known as the BEAD program. That stands for the Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment Program, which is providing more than $42 billion to all 50 states to expand high-speed Internet access.
The BEAD program follows up on the Arkansas Rural Connects program, which in three rounds of funding provided about $520 million to Arkansas communities for broadband expansion.
Arkansas was one of 19 states to receive more than $1 billion through the BEAD program.
SNAP benefits
The state Human Services Department announced that people who receive food stamps can be reimbursed for benefits stolen through an electronic scam known as skimming, or cloning.
The temporary relief program applies to benefits stolen between Oct. 1, 2022 and Sept. 30. During that period 296 people reported digital theft of their benefits.
Sen. Reginald Murdock
