Name: 'Stand Your Ground' bill passes in Arkansas House, heads to Gov. Hutchinson's desk
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'Stand Your Ground' bill passes in Arkansas House, heads to Gov. Hutchinson's desk

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Advertisement'Stand Your Ground' bill passes in Arkansas House, heads to Gov. Hutchinson's deskHide TranscriptShow TranscriptBECOMES LAW EMMA? SENATE BILL 20 FOR WILL FIND ITSELF ON GOVERNOR HUTCHINSON’S DESK NEXT WEEK. IT PASSED THROUGH THE HOUSE TODAY, BUT IT HASN’T BEEN A QUICK JOURNEY FOR THIS BILL. THE ONLY THING THAT STANDS BETWEEN THE STAND YOUR GROUND BILL BECOMING IS GOVERNOR HUTCHINSON SIGNATURE. SENATE BILL 24 AND OTHER STAND YOUR GROUND LAWS ACROSS THE COUNTRY LOOSEN RULES ON THE USE OF DEADLY FORCE IN SELF-DEFENSE SITUATIONS. THE BILL SAYS PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO DEFEND THEMSELVES AND USE PHYSICAL OR DEADLY FORCE AS LONG AS THEY’RE NOT BREAKING THE LAW WITHOUT FEAR OF CRIMINAL PROSECUTION. ALL THIS DOES IS TAKE WHAT YOU’RE ALLOWED TO DO IN YOUR HOME AND CARRY IT AT THE TO ANY OTHER PLACE THAT YOU’RE LEGALLY YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO BE AND I THINK THAT IT’S IT’S JUST STRENGTHENS THEIR RIGHT ABILITY TO DEFEND THEMSELVES. AND AND I HOPE THAT THAT PEOPLE WILL SEE THAT AND RECOGNIZE IT PEOPLE OPPOSED TO THE BILL SAY STAND YOUR GROUND IS UNSAFE AND IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO USE DEADLY FORCE WHEN THERE COULD BE OTHER OUTCOMES REPRESENTATIVE JAY RICHARDSON FROM FORT SMITH GAVE EMOTIONAL TESTIMONY AGAINST THE BILL THIS AFTERNOON, THIS BILL SCARES ME. I KNOW YOU GUYS DON’T WANT TO HEAR THIS IS A RACIAL THING, BUT IT REALLY IS AND I’M TELLING YOU THAT BECAUSE I’VE EXPERIENCED IT. TWO YEARS AGO TODAY. I LOST A NEPHEW. BECAUSE OF THIS PLEASE VOTE NO, BUT THE PRESIDENT OF THE ARKANSAS PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION SAYS NOT MUCH WILL CHANGE IF THE BILL BECOMES LAW. I THINK ARKANSANS MAKE THE SAME DECISIONS. THEY’VE BEEN MAKING WHICH IS IN THE SPUR OF A MOMENT. DO YOU HAVE TO USE DEADLY FORCE TO SAVE YOUR LIFE OR THE LIFE OF A LOVED ONE? AND I THINK ARKANSAS WILL KEEP MAKING THOSE EXACT SAME DECISIONS BECAUSE BY THEIR VERY NATURE THEY HAPPEN QUICKLY AND THEY’RE MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHATEVER LEGAL CONSEQUENCES ARE COMING LATER. SMITH IS THE BENTON COUNTY PROSECUTOR IN ADDITION TO BEING THE PRESIDENT OF THE ARKANSAS PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION. HE SAYS IN THE PAST THE ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN OPPOSED TO STAND YOUR GROUND LEGISLATION, BUT THIS YEAR THE ASSOCIATION TOOK A NEUTRAL OPINION BECAUSE AN AMENDMENT WAS ADDED THAT MADE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE LAWFULLY PRESENT IN ARE NOT CRIMINALS IN POSSESSION OF FIREARMS WHEN THEY’RE DEFENDING THEMSELVES. AGAIN, GOVERNOR HUTCHINSON WILL MAKE A DECISION WHETHER ORAdvertisement'Stand Your Ground' bill passes in Arkansas House, heads to Gov. Hutchinson's deskThe Arkansas House of Representatives has approved legislation that would loosen the state's rules on the use of deadly force in self-defense.Senate Bill 24 now heads to Gov. Asa Hutchinson's desk. This comes a day after the House Judiciary Committee approved the proposal to remove the state's duty to retreat.The bill advanced weeks after the same committee rejected the measure.Sen. Bob Ballinger, the sponsor of SB24, said the bill gives people the right to defend themselves and use physical or deadly force as long as they are not breaking the law, without fear of criminal prosecution."All this does is take what you're allowed to do in your home and carry it to any other place that you legally have a right to be. I think that it just strengthens their right and their ability to defend themselves, and I hope that people will see that and recognize it," Ballinger said.Most of the debate Tuesday focused on an unsuccessful effort to loosen the restrictions even further.People opposed to the bill, like Rep. Jay Richardson, said 'Stand Your Ground' is unsafe and it makes it easier for people to use deadly force when there could be other outcomes. "This bill scares me. I know you don't want to hear that it's a racial thing, but it is a racial thing. I'm telling you that because I have experienced it. Two years ago today, I lost a nephew because of this. Please vote no," Rep. Richardson testified Tuesday. Nathan Smith, Benton County Prosecutor and the president of the Arkansas Prosecuting Attorneys Association, said not much will change if the bill becomes law. "I think Arkansans will make the same decisions they've been making, which is, in the spur of a moment, do you have to use deadly force to save your life or the life of a loved one? I think that Arkansans will keep making those exact same decisions because, by their very nature, they happen quickly and they're more important than whatever legal consequences are coming later," Smith said. In the past, the APAA has been opposed to 'Stand Your Ground' legislation, but Smith said this time around, the association had a neutral opinion because an amendment was added that excludes people who are breaking the law and felons in possession of firearms from the protections.Similar legislation stalled in the legislature two years ago.Hutchinson said he will make a decision on SB24 next week and released this statement to 40/29 News:"Stand your ground legislation passed by wide margins in both the House and Senate after considerable debate and testimony. I will take the weekend to review the testimony and debate and make a decision on the bill next week."Follow this link to learn how a bill becomes a law in ArkansasThe Arkansas House of Representatives has approved legislation that would loosen the state's rules on the use of deadly force in self-defense. now heads to Gov. Asa Hutchinson's desk.AdvertisementSen. Bob Ballinger, the sponsor of SB24, said the bill gives people the right to defend themselves and use physical or deadly force as long as they are not breaking the law, without fear of criminal prosecution."All this does is take what you're allowed to do in your home and carry it to any other place that you legally have a right to be. I think that it just strengthens their right and their ability to defend themselves, and I hope that people will see that and recognize it," Ballinger said.Most of the debate Tuesday focused on an unsuccessful effort to loosen the restrictions even further.People opposed to the bill, like Rep. Jay Richardson, said 'Stand Your Ground' is unsafe and it makes it easier for people to use deadly force when there could be other outcomes. "This bill scares me. I know you don't want to hear that it's a racial thing, but it is a racial thing. I'm telling you that because I have experienced it. Two years ago today, I lost a nephew because of this. Please vote no," Rep. Richardson testified Tuesday. Nathan Smith, Benton County Prosecutor and the president of the Arkansas Prosecuting Attorneys Association, said not much will change if the bill becomes law. "I think Arkansans will make the same decisions they've been making, which is, in the spur of a moment, do you have to use deadly force to save your life or the life of a loved one? I think that Arkansans will keep making those exact same decisions because, by their very nature, they happen quickly and they're more important than whatever legal consequences are coming later," Smith said. In the past, the APAA has been opposed to 'Stand Your Ground' legislation, but Smith said this time around, the association had a neutral opinion because an amendment was added that excludes people who are breaking the law and felons in possession of firearms from the protections.Similar legislation stalled in the legislature two years ago.Hutchinson said he will make a decision on SB24 next week and released this statement to 40/29 News:"Stand your ground legislation passed by wide margins in both the House and Senate after considerable debate and testimony. I will take the weekend to review the testimony and debate and make a decision on the bill next week."Loading more articles...

Advertisement'Stand Your Ground' bill passes in Arkansas House, heads to Gov. Hutchinson's deskHide TranscriptShow TranscriptBECOMES LAW EMMA? SENATE BILL 20 FOR WILL FIND ITSELF ON GOVERNOR HUTCHINSON’S DESK NEXT WEEK. IT PASSED THROUGH THE HOUSE TODAY, BUT IT HASN’T BEEN A QUICK JOURNEY FOR THIS BILL. THE ONLY THING THAT STANDS BETWEEN THE STAND YOUR GROUND BILL BECOMING IS GOVERNOR HUTCHINSON SIGNATURE. SENATE BILL 24 AND OTHER STAND YOUR GROUND LAWS ACROSS THE COUNTRY LOOSEN RULES ON THE USE OF DEADLY FORCE IN SELF-DEFENSE SITUATIONS. THE BILL SAYS PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO DEFEND...

'Stand Your Ground' bill passes in Arkansas House, heads to Gov. Hutchinson's desk

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