Bills Filed to Allow Concealed Handguns in Churches and Colleges

Two bills have been filed in the Arkansas legislature that would allow concealed handguns in churches as well as colleges and universities.

The Church Protection Act of 2013, Senate Bill (SB) 71, is sponsored by Senator Bryan King, of Green Forest.

The bill states:

SECTION 1. Arkansas Code 5-73-306(16), concerning the prohibition against carrying a concealed handgun in a church or other place of worship, is amended to read as follows:

• (16)(A) Any church or other place of worship.
• (B) However, this subchapter does not preclude a church or other place of worship from determining who may carry a concealed handgun into the church or other place of worship;

Another bill was filed in the Arkansas House that  would allow trained faculty and staff at colleges and universities to carry concealed handguns.

Rep. Denny Altes of Fort Smith filed the bill.