Gun rights activists will march through western Arkansas with their weapons on full display this weekend, a subtle act of defiance and show of solidarity against the state’s attorney general who said the open carry of handguns is illegal.
Arkansas Carry, a guns rights group, arranged the “open carry” invite-only processional for Saturday, the Associated Press reported. Activists will openly display their weapons as they march in Fort Smith.
Attorney General Dustin McDaniel said the state’s new gun law, which went into effect Aug. 16, basically bans the open carry of weapons. Specifically, he argued, it prohibits an individual from going on a journey — defined as traveling “beyond the county in which the person lives” — and openly carrying a weapon, AP said.
Arkansas Carry says that interpretation is incorrect.
“Basically, we’re going to do the walk because it’s legal and we’re trying to show that Act 746 does authorize open carry contrary to what the attorney general said,” group chairman Steve Jones said, adding that the march has the approval of police and prosecutors.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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