Arkansas Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action Respond as Extreme Gun Bills Advance Through Legislature

Today, Three Dangerous Nullification Bills (SB59, SB298, and HB1386) All Advanced Through House Judiciary; Strict Scrutiny Constitutional Amendment (SJR 13) Advanced Through Senate State Agencies & Governmental Affairs

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Arkansas chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots networks, released the following statement after lawmakers in the Arkansas legislature advanced a series of dangerous gun bills today. The nullification bills, widely opposed by law enforcement officials, would prevent local officials from keeping Arkansans safe by helping to enforce federal gun laws, and subject them to criminal penalties if they do so. The strict scrutiny constitutional amendment would threaten all of Arkansas’ gun laws, including laws that keep firearms out of K-12 schools.

“Arkansas is facing real problems – we have a gun violence public health crisis, a pandemic to recover from, schools to fix, an economy to jumpstart,” said Amy Gillespie, a volunteer with the Arkansas chapter of Moms Demand Action. “But instead, our lawmakers are competing with each other over who can introduce the most reckless gun bills, who can break the most promises they’ve made to support law enforcement, and who can endanger the most lives by doing so. We sent these people to Little Rock to represent us and keep us safe – they’re doing the opposite.”