LITTLE ROCK, AR – An Arkansas representative says she will try to run her open carry for guns bill after a House panel rejected the proposal on Tuesday.
HB1408 failed in the House judiciary committee 9-8, needing 11 votes to advance to the House floor.
State representative Sue Scott (R-Rogers) made a change to her open-carry idea to make it less controversial but it didn’t work.
The legislation allows conceal carry permit holders to open carry.
Sensing opposition Tuesday, Scott changed her bill to allow open carry only in non-incorporated, largely rural areas.
Despite the changes, law enforcement lined up against it.
Arkansas State Police colonel Stan Witt told committee members open carry could cost a trooper their life.
“We feel like that would cause an officer to have to pause and wonder if that person legally carrying open carry or not,” Witt says.
Scott says she will try again to get her bill passed before the session ends.
“What I plan to do is get a team together and include some of those sheriff’s and police officers and state troopers who were so against the bill and just say, what would it take? What would you all like to see in this bill,” Scott says.
Arkansas State Police says it will not compromise on open-carry and plan to oppose it every step of the way.
HB1408 failed in the House judiciary committee 9-8, needing 11 votes to advance to the House floor.
State representative Sue Scott (R-Rogers) made a change to her open-carry idea to make it less controversial but it didn’t work.
The legislation allows conceal carry permit holders to open carry.
Sensing opposition Tuesday, Scott changed her bill to allow open carry only in non-incorporated, largely rural areas.
Despite the changes, law enforcement lined up against it.
Arkansas State Police colonel Stan Witt told committee members open carry could cost a trooper their life.
“We feel like that would cause an officer to have to pause and wonder if that person legally carrying open carry or not,” Witt says.
Scott says she will try again to get her bill passed before the session ends.
“What I plan to do is get a team together and include some of those sheriff’s and police officers and state troopers who were so against the bill and just say, what would it take? What would you all like to see in this bill,” Scott says.
Arkansas State Police says it will not compromise on open-carry and plan to oppose it every step of the way.
