State lawmakers taking up gun proposals
By The Associated Press
This article was published January 23, 2013 at 7:18 a.m.
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Bryan King. State Senate District 5.
LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas lawmakers are taking up a proposal to allow concealed handguns in church and a resolution encouraging government officials to not infringe on 2nd Amendment rights.
The Senate Judiciary Committee was expected Wednesday to consider a bill that would allow concealed handguns in churches.
The measure by Republican Sen. Bryan King of Green Forest would allow churches and other places of worship to determine who could carry a concealed handgun into their facilities.
Concealed weapons are currently banned from churches.
The House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee also planned to consider a non
binding resolution by Republican Rep. Richard Womack of Arkadelphia encouraging state, local and federal officials to “respect and preserve the rights guaranteed by the Second Amendment.”
Comments on: State lawmakers taking up gun proposals
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LETSBEREALISTIC says... January 23, 2013 at 8:07 a.m.
Good job and if teachers aren't now allowed to responsibly, if licensed and with trigger guards, carry concealed guns then they should be.
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TuckerMax says... January 23, 2013 at 8:24 a.m.
Too bad they don't have the same respect for the First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Amendments.
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LittleRockVoter says... January 23, 2013 at 9:13 a.m.
Aside from the bill to let college students carry a concealed weapon to class on college campuses, this is the dumbest idea I've ever heard of. I don't want to go to any church where my fellow parishioners are carrying concealed weapons. If you need to carry a gun to church for protection then I think it’s time to find a new place to worship.
I find it interesting that none of the Arkansas legislators that are promoting carrying concealed weapons to college classrooms and churches are pushing to change the concealed weapon law to allow the good people of Arkansas to carry concealed weapons in state office buildings; meetings of the legislators at the capital; and to courthouses and courtrooms. It seems that when it comes to their safety these legislators are not inclined to trust a person with a concealed weapon permit to protect them should the need arise.
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Libertarian says... January 23, 2013 at 9:55 a.m.
Jacabbott, name calling aside, you're half right. A church is no more immune from crime than any other location. Making them gun free could make them a more attractive target to criminals and the deranged.
What if someone were in a church intending harm? It has happened more than once. It could be a church in a more dangerous area would like to know a couple of parishioners were prepared for the worst.
Regardless, it shouldn't be dictated by the state. Let each church decide, same as any other private property owner.
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NoCrossNoCrown says... January 23, 2013 at 9:58 a.m.
The "Pistol Packing Jesus" Bill....
Good point Max...
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NoCrossNoCrown says... January 23, 2013 at 10:03 a.m.
Can't wait till we have the shoot-out at the Mt. OK Corral Worship Center....
Film at 11:00
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23cal says... January 23, 2013 at 10:48 a.m.
Rick Perry says instead of gun laws we need to pray. Surely a whole building full of God's children praying will be adequate for Him to reach out and protect them without opening the church up for concealed carry. Surely.
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Jfish says... January 23, 2013 at 11:06 a.m.
I don't see the big deal in allowing a person with a CC permit to carry it in church. We all probably walk by several people a day on the sidewalks, grocery stores, etc., who conceal guns.
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Jackabbott says... January 23, 2013 at 11:46 a.m.
The unofficial state unemployment rate is 7% and the real rate is probably double or triple that. Whirlpool left the state and took over 5,000 jobs from FT. Smith to China and Mexico, Hawker is going down in LR, and LRAFB is downsizing and these guys want to arm church members. Is this to prevent all the killings and terror in Churhes? I guess the curator at the LR Zoo left the gates unlocked again.
Who in their right mind would want to sit in church not konwing if the person seated behind you is a NRA half-wit, a mentally unchallenged person having a bad day, an ilegal having a bad day or a terrorit out for a good time or for some publicitiy?
These guys need to adjourn now and go home and shoot it out with their campaign contributors.
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DontDrinkDatKoolAid says... January 23, 2013 at 12:01 p.m.
In God I trust ... all others are suspect.
~
News Flash ... currently there are Churchs permitting various members to carry a side arm.
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rainbowharold55 says... January 23, 2013 at 12:13 p.m.
Guns. In a church. Guess there's no "Prince of Peace" in one that needs armed parishioners. Instead of arming the entire populace, shouldn't we be making positive steps to staop all this gun violence?
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BillSmith says... January 23, 2013 at 12:53 p.m.
Why conceal carry, why not just allow pistols to be carried openly as well as rifles, that way the nut case in the congregation can see who all is carring and may think twice about start shooting. Your fallacy is that the nutbag does not care whether he lives or dies, that is just a little more chalanging to his Rambo mentality. People need to research how safe it was 150 years ago when everyone was packing everwhere. Is this this the era we wont to go back too? All right wing republicans say Amen!
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jorb says... January 23, 2013 at 1 p.m.
JackAbbot, name me a "NRA half-wit" That has shot up a public building.We NRA members obediately register our firearms,lock them in gun cabinets or safes while crooks and the Federal Govt. buy and sell guns illegaly(Fast and Furious).How about going after them.
1.Federalize all gun crimes
2.Any crime commited with a gun-Automatic 10 years +time for other crimes involved
3.If that gun is fired during crime 20 years
4.If someone is injured by that shot LIFE
5.If a death occurs Death Penalty
6.Move all gun crimes to top of court docket
7.Lets go after the criminals not law abiding citizens
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BillSmith says... January 23, 2013 at 1:01 p.m.
Oh, ye of little faith.
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BillSmith says... January 23, 2013 at 1:59 p.m.
Re: New Mexico shooting:
Pastor Greg Griego had taught his son how to use the AR-15 rifle and took him shooting regularly, Bernalillo County Sheriff Dan Houston said.
That and kid dressed in fatigues and played violent video games.
No demons here, just a complicit right wing preacher father, and your telling me he could not see the dark side of his son.
Read more: nydailynews. com/news/national/n-m-pastor-taught-killer-son-shoot-article-1.1245610#ixzz2IpWpVpu7
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GiveUsLiberty says... January 23, 2013 at 2:35 p.m.
NRA members do not cause me any concern in church, on the street or in the classroom. Contrary to what the lame stream media would have you belive, the vast majority of NRA members are law-abiding citizens and love this country and our Constitution. It's the LEFT WING NUT JOBS that concern me. Interesting that all of the recent mass shooting "suspects" were from LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC households!
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NoCrossNoCrown says... January 23, 2013 at 3:34 p.m.
LIB can make it up just like over at FAUX noise
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PaulRevere says... January 23, 2013 at 3:40 p.m.
I would like to see our legislature be a bit more aggessive on the subject, and propose a bill similar to what a other states have already done... assert the state's stand on 2nd amendment rights, and prohibit any state or federal police authority or prosecutor from enforcing any additional federal restriction on firearms, firearm accessories or ammuntion from being enforced in Arkansas under penalty of being charged with a felony. Come on, legislators! Stand up for Arkansans and show New York how gun control is really done.
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RonalFos says... January 23, 2013 at 4:37 p.m.
How Christ like. Going to church packing heat.
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BillSmith says... January 23, 2013 at 4:56 p.m.
GiveUsLiberty...... Check out the 15 year old pastor's son that killed all of his family in New Mwxico, his dad took him to the range to shoot their AR-15 on a regular basis, he dressed in fatigues and watched violent video games. He was going to Wall Mart to kill more people and then to his dads old church and have a shootout with police hoping to be killed. What part of this family was not conservative. They certanly did not seam liberal as you suggest nut case shooters are.
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Pobucker says... January 23, 2013 at 5:04 p.m.
It's OK to pack the heat. Jesus was ok with it. He stopped peter from using his sword and glued the ear back on because peter was screwing up the whole crucifixion scheme. Jesus did not tell his followers to disarm. In fact, "...if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one"
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Pobucker says... January 23, 2013 at 5:06 p.m.
That pastor reaped what he sowed. that's life. what's you point, Bill?
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BillSmith says... January 23, 2013 at 5:15 p.m.
Pobucker....Now for the rest of the story as Paul Harver would say:
Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword."(Matthew 26:52)[4]
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Pobucker says... January 23, 2013 at 5:40 p.m.
Jesus just sayin', Bill.
Go to a sword fight, expect to get sworded. That's right...
He still said, "get you a sword". yep
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BillSmith says... January 23, 2013 at 9:59 p.m.
pobunker......a legend in your own mind.
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NoCrossNoCrown says... January 23, 2013 at 11 p.m.
don't you have to have a mind to be a legend in your own...???? IJS
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cwbird says... January 24, 2013 at 12:34 a.m.
That's the way to do it. The Second Amendment is worded in such a way that the federal government is bound not to infringe on the right to keep and bear arms. Simply put, the federal government is not allowed to even touch my right to keep and bear arms; any kind of arms. The federal government passing any kind of law or regulation or executive order that does touch my rights concerning arms is strictly unconstitutional. If anyone wants to restrict the rights of citizens to keep and bear arms, they must first go through the process required to alter or repeal the Second Amendment. Talking about any of the reasons that citizens should or should not be able to keep and bear arms is irrelevant, simply because the Constitution is the highest law of the land. Also, thinking of passing laws or writing regulations that are in any way contrary to the Constitution is foolishness. The Constitution prevails over any such.
Furthermore, I'd always trust the judgement of the Founding Fathers over any of our current leaders at any level of government, so I wouldn't even think of repealing or altering the Second Amendment or any other part of the original Constitution or the first ten amendments. The Founding Fathers risked their lives and fortunes to provide this republic we call the United States. I don't know of a single political leader that has, as a leader other than in the military, risked his life or fortune to provide or keep this republic sound. I doubt that even one of them would be willing to do so. Therefore, their judgment and their motivations are suspect.
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inquire says... January 24, 2013 at 1:07 a.m.
The second amendment is not absolute any more than is the first. Limits come when citizens push their amendment rights to the point of endangering others, such as yelling "fire" in a crowded theater or making a bomb threat and causing a panic. These are illegal, despite the basic right to free speech.
The second amendment does not guarantee people the right to have any and every weapon that exists. If it did, people could legally carry small nuclear weapons and shoulder fired missiles. Assault style weapons with huge magazines are just as unnecessary and ridiculous, just as dangerous to the common welfare.
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RonalFos says... January 24, 2013 at 7:57 a.m.
jorb, great ideas. You got the couple $100 billion it would take to build all the new prisons?
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Packman says... January 24, 2013 at 11:17 a.m.
Hey inquire - "Assault style weapons with huge magazines are just as unnecessary and ridiculous, just as dangerous to the common welfare." This statement is a lie. Over the past 10 years less than 1% of gun violence has been committed with a military platform rifle with a high capacity magazine. Stop with the lies. As to restrictions on the 2nd Amendment, counting local, state, and federal ordinances, there are literally thousands of laws already on the books restricting firearms ownership and use in some shape, form or fashion. Reasonable people agree to reasonable limits that restrict the individual exercise of freedom and liberty in America but NOT to restrictions that are proposed simply for political fodder and for which society accrues NO benefit.
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DontDrinkDatKoolAid says... January 24, 2013 at 9:02 p.m.
All political power comes from the barrel of a gun. The Communist Party must command all the guns; that way, no guns can ever be used to command the party.
– Mao Zedong, Nov 6, 1938
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