Arkansas 'Technical' Corrections

[Guest 270win]

Act 746 made some technical corrections to Arkansas weapons laws that you might want to find out about if you go there.  I go there a lot because it is just across the river from me and I have family there.

 

 

http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2013/2013R/Acts/Act746.pdf

 

 

High points:

 

A journey is now defined and instead of now being a 'defense to prosecution' it is now one of several reasons that you are allowed to carry a handgun.  Before a journey was based on gray case law.  Those of you who do not know, you have generally been able to carry a handgun or other weapon like a club when on a journey.

 

 

Also the law has been changed to where it is now illegal to carry a weapon for the purpose to attempt to unlawfully employ the weapon against a person as a weapon.  Before it has been illegal to carry a weapon for the PURPOSE to use it against a person.  It has been interpreted that even carrying a weapon for self defense was illegal because you intended to use the weapon against a person.

 

You will also see that it is only illegal to carry a knife over three inches, switchblades, butterflies, clubs, blackjacks IF you are attempting to unlawfully employ the weapon against the person as a weapon.

 

Some are hoping that change will allow the carrying of a weapon without a license in a subtle way.  If nothing else, it is pretty clear that if you are not in your county of residence, you can carry a handgun without a license.