The bill to allow those with concealed carry permits to can concealed handguns into houses of worship was rejected Wednesday by the Arkansas Senate panel reviewing the issue reports the Associated Press
The measure would have removed churches and other houses of worship from the list of places where concealed handguns are banned in Arkansas. Only churches and bars are on that list.
The House approved the measure earlier this month. The Senate Judiciary Committee stalled the bill on a voice vote Wednesday.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Beverly Pyle, R-Cedarville, told the panel after the vote that she may try again with the proposal.
“This is not a gun question, it is a question of religious freedom,” Pyle said.
Gov. Mike Beebe has said he’d sign the bill if it made it to his desk.
I believe that churches concerned about having armed protection should consider using law enforcement or other trained protective services. As I mentioned in a conversation earlier, this legislation appears to be a knee jerk reaction to a number of church shootings last year. I have more to say on the subject and will probably add those thoughts to the comments.