Imposes large burden

Citizens and religious leaders alike need to know the burden lawmakers chose to impose upon Arkansas houses of worship when they added sections 4 and 5 to HB1249—a bill claiming to permit concealed-carry onto state college campuses but actually extending concealed-carry rights into sanctuaries and houses of worship without the permission of those communities.

Churches, mosques and temples must post signs of state-mandated language, size and location if they hope to prevent guns in their sanctuaries. I believe these signs are a de facto tax, a breach of the separation of church and state, and a violation of the First Amendment rights to free practice of religion.

Current law already enables houses of worship to “opt-in” as locations open to concealed-carry permits if they so choose; the unnecessary proposed law forces churches to opt out at cost to themselves, and would result in raised insurance rates due to increased risk, as well as damage to exterior aesthetics.

Many religions oppose violence and arms as a matter of faith, and this legislation violates their rights within their own buildings. Religious leaders and people of good conscience must be made aware of this unconstitutional overreach of state powers, and immediately contact Gov. Asa Hutchinson to veto this legislation. It waits on his desk for a signature. MARIE MAINARD O’CONNELL

Little Rock