Arkansas May Strengthen State’s Constitutional Right to Keep and Bear Arms

AmmoLand ^ | April 22, 2025 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

The Arkansas legislature is making an improvement to the state constitution’s right to keep and bear arms language to the ballot for the next election. Here is the current Arkansas Constitution  Article 2, § 5:

Right to Bear Arms

The citizens of this State shall have the right to keep and bear arms, for their common defense.

The current language is problematic because it only mentions “common defense” and does not specifically mention individual rights, although individual rights are implied. Arkansas became a Constitutional Carry state on April 4th, 2013. On April 12, 2023, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee signed SB480 into law, clarifying that Arkansas was a Constitutional Carry state.

SJR11 passed the Senate on Thursday, April 10, 2025, on a vote of 28-7.  Arkansas SJR11 would change the Arkansas Constitution Article 2, § 5 to read as follows:

 SECTION 1. INTENT OF AMENDMENT. It is the intent of this amendment to the Arkansas Constitution to protect the right to keep and bear arms guaranteed under the Arkansas Constitution.

SECTION 2. Arkansas Constitution, Article 2, § 5, is amended to read as follows:

§ 5. Right to keep and bear arms.

(a) The citizens of this State shall have the right to keep and bear arms, for:

(1) their Their common defense;
(2) Lawful hunting and recreational use; and
(3) Any other lawful purpose.

(b) The right to keep and bear arms under subsection (a) of this section includes without limitation the possession and use of:

(1) Ammunition;
(2) Firearm accessories; and
(3) Firearm components.

(c) The right to keep and bear arms under subsection (a) of this section is a natural, fundamental, and individual right that shall not be infringed

The House approved the measure on April 15.

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TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: 2a; ar; arkansas; armingbears; banglist; constitution

[marktwain]

All but 6 states have a right to bear arms provision in their constitution. In several states, the right is not explicitly strong and clear. Arkansas is in the process of improving their constitution.

[sipow]

I don’t understand why they still say “common” defense and don’t include “individual” or “personal”. They should make it clear that you have a right to have firearms tos defend yourself as an individual.

I realize they put “any other lawful purpose” but laws are subject to the whims of lawmakers. What is lawful today may not be tomorrow.

[DCBryan1]

75% plus Republicans in state house and senate. Half a dozen of them want an Arkansas NFA only.

[Carry_Okie]

Just take out the word, “common.” Fewer words make fewer points of argument.