Petition for Arkansas HB1237 of 2009
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Author:
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Send To:
Arkansas State Legislature and Arkansas Governor
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Sponsored By:
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This petition expresses support for removing churches and other places of worship from the list of Prohibited Places under Arkansas Code 5-73-306, The Arkansas Concealed Handgun Licensing Law. We support HB1237 of 2009 as the avenue through which to accomplish this.
We hold that a church building is private property, and as such the right of the entity controlling said property to decide whether or not to allow the carrying of a concealed handgun in accordance with Arkansas law should be recognized.
We recognize that the only other private properties subjected to this restriction are some establishments where alcoholic beverages are dispensed for consumption on the premises. We affirm that the existing law is a government mandate that a private entity (i.e. a church or other place of worship) do what the mass of other private entities are not required to do and therefore is a violation of the rights of the local congregation.
We also recognize that members, staff, and volunteers who work at a church or other place of worship are often present at times when the congregation is not gathered and that removing churches and other places of worship from the list of Prohibited Places would allow these individuals another avenue through which to provide for their personal security at such times.
We further recognize the reality of recent acts of crime against people who are gathered for worship and assert that allowing those who hold a Concealed Handgun License recognized by the sate of Arkansas to carry a concealed handgun in a church or other place of worship is a reasonable means of defense.
For the foregoing reasons, we residents of the State of Arkansas affirm and assert that each church should be permitted to either allow or prohibit the carrying of a concealed handgun by the holder of a Concealed Handgun License at its own discretion.
We hold that a church building is private property, and as such the right of the entity controlling said property to decide whether or not to allow the carrying of a concealed handgun in accordance with Arkansas law should be recognized.
We recognize that the only other private properties subjected to this restriction are some establishments where alcoholic beverages are dispensed for consumption on the premises. We affirm that the existing law is a government mandate that a private entity (i.e. a church or other place of worship) do what the mass of other private entities are not required to do and therefore is a violation of the rights of the local congregation.
We also recognize that members, staff, and volunteers who work at a church or other place of worship are often present at times when the congregation is not gathered and that removing churches and other places of worship from the list of Prohibited Places would allow these individuals another avenue through which to provide for their personal security at such times.
We further recognize the reality of recent acts of crime against people who are gathered for worship and assert that allowing those who hold a Concealed Handgun License recognized by the sate of Arkansas to carry a concealed handgun in a church or other place of worship is a reasonable means of defense.
For the foregoing reasons, we residents of the State of Arkansas affirm and assert that each church should be permitted to either allow or prohibit the carrying of a concealed handgun by the holder of a Concealed Handgun License at its own discretion.
201 Signatures
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Ashley Brookshire
- City or Town
- Fordyce
- Zip Code
- 71742
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Joel Humphrey
- City or Town
- Hot Springs
- Zip Code
- 71913
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Nathan Petty
- City or Town
- Fordyce
- Zip Code
- 71742
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Larry E. Clements
- Comments
- I know a minster who was killed counseling in off-times at the church office (Max Austin). I support this petition!
- City or Town
- Texarkana, AR
- Zip Code
- 71854
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Roger Stewart
- Comments
- As pastor of a Baptist church in Pine Bluff I am for the right to carry concealed weapons in our church house.
- City or Town
- Pine Bluff
- Zip Code
- 71603
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Mark T. Thornton
- City or Town
- Bryant, AR
- Zip Code
- 72022
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Jay Wheatley
- City or Town
- Hot Springs
- Zip Code
- 71913
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Thomas W. Hill
- City or Town
- Van Buren
- Zip Code
- 72956
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Doyle Oden
- Comments
- К
- City or Town
- Carlisle
- Zip Code
- 72024
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Leighton Schultz
- City or Town
- Hot Springs
- Zip Code
- 71909
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Jimmy W Gourley
- City or Town
- Amity
- Zip Code
- 71921
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Douglas Head
- City or Town
- Little Rock
- Zip Code
- 72206
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Jeremiah Keen
- Comments
- we need to be able to protect ourselves and others as we worship.
- City or Town
- Jonesboro
- Zip Code
- 72401
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Tory Curtis Cotton
- City or Town
- Fort Smith
- Zip Code
- 72904
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ed blaine
- City or Town
- hot springs village
- Zip Code
- 71909
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Kevin Smith
- City or Town
- Ward, AR
- Zip Code
- 72176
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Eli Maynard
- City or Town
- Donaldson
- Zip Code
- 71941
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Keith Holland
- City or Town
- Benton
- Zip Code
- 72019
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Joshua Lowry
- Comments
- Please allow us to defend our families. Churches have been the targets of hate crimes in recent years.
- City or Town
- Elkins
- Zip Code
- AR
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Edward Figarsky
- City or Town
- Little Rock
- Zip Code
- 72211
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Steven Freeman
- City or Town
- Hot Springs
- Zip Code
- 71913
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Ted Smethers
- Comments
- Support HB1237 of 2009
- City or Town
- Hot Springs
- Zip Code
- 71901
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Matt Thornton
- City or Town
- Little Rock
- Zip Code
- 72205
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Wayne Sewell
- City or Town
- Texarkana, AR
- Zip Code
- 71854
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Brian Shaddock
- City or Town
- Fordyce
- Zip Code
- 71742
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Paul Owen
- City or Town
- Fordyce
- Zip Code
- 71742
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John Oswald
- City or Town
- Texarkana
- Zip Code
- 71854
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Jon Humphrey
- Comments
- I am in favor of churches having the choice of allowing concealed carry for personal security
- City or Town
- Hot Springs, AR
- Zip Code
- 71913
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Mark Raabe
- City or Town
- Fayetteville
- Zip Code
- 72704
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Casey Penn
- Comments
- It's unfortunate but necessary to be able to protect one's church family.
- City or Town
- Benton
- Zip Code
- 72019
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Daniel J Smith
- Comments
- Let each Church decide for itself.
- City or Town
- Hot Springs
- Zip Code
- 71913
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Danny Hill
- City or Town
- Sheridan
- Zip Code
- 72150
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Jennifer Allen
- City or Town
- Malvern
- Zip Code
- 72104
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Jeff Temple
- City or Town
- Casscoe
- Zip Code
- 72026
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Charleen Nobles
- City or Town
- Hot Springs
- Zip Code
- 71901
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Jefferson Ray Penn
- City or Town
- Benton
- Zip Code
- 72019
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Crystal Oswald
- City or Town
- Texarkana
- Zip Code
- 71854
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Juaken Wilkerson
- City or Town
- Romance
- Zip Code
- 72136
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Gerald L Pruett
- City or Town
- Pangburn
- Zip Code
- 72121
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Kim Graves,M.D.
- City or Town
- Dover
- Zip Code
- 72837
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Alan Stark
- City or Town
- Batesville
- Zip Code
- 72501
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Robert Murry
- City or Town
- Thornton
- Zip Code
- 71788
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Cody Gourley
- City or Town
- Amity
- Zip Code
- 71921
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Chad Gourley
- City or Town
- Amity
- Zip Code
- 71921
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Edna Carlton
- Comments
- My husband and son are both preachers. We highly support this bill.
- City or Town
- De QUeen
- Zip Code
- 71832
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Gary Lee Moore
- City or Town
- Conway
- Zip Code
- 72033
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Kristen (Moore) Lemon
- City or Town
- Little Rock
- Zip Code
- 72210
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Elaine Wachowiak
- City or Town
- Jefferson
- Zip Code
- 72079
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Stanley R. McLendon
- City or Town
- Sheridan
- Zip Code
- 72150
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Jason H. Carlton
- Comments
- I am a pastor and I support this bill.
- City or Town
- De Queen
- Zip Code
- 71832
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201
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