House set to vote on guns-in-church bill

— Arkansas House lawmakers are set to vote on a plan to permit concealed handguns in churches and other houses of worship.

The House will vote Monday on a measure that would leave it up to individual places of worship to decide whether to allow concealed handguns and who could carry them.

The measure already cleared the Senate last week by a 28-4 vote.

House Speaker Davy Carter says he supports the bill and expects it will pass the Republican-controlled chamber.

If the House approves the legislation, it will head back to the Senate for a vote to approve the addition of new sponsors to the bill before going to the governor’s desk. Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe has indicated he will likely sign it.

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