PROSPECTIVE

bryant high school200 nw 4th stbryant, ar 72022vol. 21, issue 403.01.13

GUN CONTROL157

SECOND AMENDMENT

AURORA, COLORADO

CASUALTIESSANDY HOOK

PROTECTION

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TThe Second Amendment

of the Constitution states that the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be

infringed.

[

[KNOWTHELAW:

“I WOULDN’T USE AN

ASSAULT RIFLE FOR

HUNTING.”

fter the Newtown, Conn., school shooting, the Obama administration called Congress to reinstate a ban that expired in 2004 that outlawed magazines with a capacity of

more than 10 rounds and expand background checks. After 14 mass shootings across the nation in the past year, it is apparent to the Obama administration that something must be done. All but four guns were purchased legally, and how two of the shooters acquired their guns is unknown. In some cases, the guns were purchased from a private seller where no background check was required and no waiting period enforced. Arguments defending and refuting the decision to limit the types of guns that are legal or to leave gun owners alone are all valid, but there is no argument to completely take away the public’s right to bare arms. No such argument would stand in Congress because it is unconstitutional. In support of this proposal, Vice President Joe Biden made the comment Feb. 20 in an online forum, “You don’t need an AR-15. It’s harder to aim, harder to use, and in fact, you don’t need 30 rounds to protect yourself. Buy a shotgun.” (CNN) The limits are put in place to protect citizens, not restrict them from owning a gun period. “I enjoy hunting and shooting sports,” senior Brooke Dennis said. “But I wouldn’t use an assault rifle for hunting.” With all the proposed gun legislation passing through the state legislator recently, no state in the country has a law against guns and it would be unconstitutional to have such a law. Most do however; have a law that states they have the right to “regulate the wearing of arms, with the view to prevent crime.” (Texas State Constitution, article 1, section 23.)

A

The citizens of this State shall have the right to keep and bear arms for their common defense. Art. II, § 5 (enacted 1868, art. I, § 5)

[

[KNOWTHELAW:

he Church Protection Act is a highly anticipated bill that would allow all churches and places of worship to decide whether or not to allow

concealed weapons to be carried during service. It was passed through the Ark. House of Representatives (85-8) and the Ark. Senate (28-4) and signed into law by Gov. Mike Beebe Mon., Feb. 11. While some churches feel the need to protect their members with concealed weapons, others believe the law violates the separation of church and state and would only make the problem worse. Other states passing similar legislation include South Carolina, Wyoming and Louisiana. Officer J.B. Stephens, whose opinion is not affiliated with the Little Rock Police Department, is a member of Calvary Church of the Nazarene in Little Rock and said he has mixed feelings about the law. “My opinion on allowing people with concealed carry permits to take firearms in church is exactly what the law allows, it should be up to each church, and I do agree with that,” Stephens said. “But on a personal level, I do not think a church is a place for guns. If you’re in a situation where you need security, there is security that is available. For example, in our church, we have arrangements for security that eliminate any need to bring guns inside.” Stephens said the most concerning factor is lack of preparation when handling an emergency, and a gun class isn’t enough to make those decisions.

“The class is just a short four-hour class and firing a couple times on the range,” he said. “Most of the class deals with when and where you can carry it, but that does not prepare you for making decisions when you have to fire your weapon in a crisis situation.” A bill passed through the Arkansas House (70-11) Feb. 15 would allow Arkansas colleges and universities to decide whether or not to allow school faculty to carry concealed weapons. Many higher-education schools such as the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville voiced mixed feelings on the subject, but student body legislators would ultimately decide a school’s gun status. If passed by the Ark. Senate, Gov. Beebe will likely sign the bill and join 28 other states in allowing concealed weapons on college campuses. Arkansas violent crime is an ongoing

struggle in the state’s largest cities including Little Rock and Conway. According to Neighborhoodscout, last years’ crime reports claimed 162 murders in the state, 1,213 counts of rape, 2,428 reports of robbery and 10,326 counts of assault. Restrictions on guns and ammo could hinder

these crime rates. Business at local gun stores and manufacturers is booming. Gun owners who are fearful of bans are buying record-setting amounts of ammunition and guns; particularly .22-caliber long rifle shells and AR-15 assault rifles. The spike in demand has doubled prices around the state, forcing some stores such as Wal-Mart to limit buying amounts per customer. John Huntley, a

manager at Bullseye Guns and Ammo, said the height in demand has left businesses scrambling for products. “You can’t meet very many people’s demands because it’s hard to get products based on the shear amount of volume that manufacturing is doing,” Huntley said. “They’re doing all the manufacturing they can do, and it’s not enough.” Huntley said the most popular products at Bullseye are AR-15s, pistols and various rounds of ammunition. “There are many types of rounds we have to limit, and it doesn’t look like that trend is going to change anytime soon,” he said. “We have a little bit only because we’re limiting people. If we didn’t we’d have nothing to sell, but there’s a lot of calls everyday on ammo because nobody seems to have enough of it.” Violent crime in the Benton and Bryant area remains relatively low. According Neighborhoodscout, last year’s crime reports claimed 9 counts of rape, 16 counts of robbery and 107 counts of assault. To obtain a concealed carry permit for handguns, applicants submit all forms to the Director of the Department of Arkansas State Police with a $100 fee. All applicants must be a citizen of the United States, live in the state for at least 90 consecutive days, must be 21 years of age or older, possess no record of physical or mental infirmity, no criminal record of felony charges, be submitted to background checks and no record of substance or alcohol abuse. After completing a state-mandated training course, permit owners must sign a statement of allegiance to the U.S. Constitution and the Ark. Constitution. All permits expire within five years of issuance and can be renewed for a $35 fee.

JACOB THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

“I DO NOT THINK

CHURCHIS A PLACE FOR

GUNS.”

T

AND WAY OF LIVING

“LEARNINGAND ADAPTING TO

IS HARD A NEW LANGUAGE

FOR THEM.”

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