Governor expands where concealed guns allowed

LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas' governor signed a sweeping gun rights measure into law on Wednesday that will allow concealed handguns at state colleges, some bars, government buildings and even the state Capitol.

The measure approved by Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson allows someone with a concealed handgun license to carry at the locations if they undergo up to eight hours of active-shooter training. Hutchinson chaired a National Rifle Association task force that called for trained, armed staff at schools after the 2012 elementary school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.

"This bill, in my view, reflects the will of the General Assembly and is constitutional and will balance public safety and the Second Amendment," Hutchinson said at a news conference after signing the measure.

The law takes effect Sept. 1, but Arkansas residents likely won't be allowed to carry concealed weapons into the expanded locations until early next year. The law gives Arkansas State Police until January to design the additional training that'll be required. More than 220,000 people have concealed handgun licenses in Arkansas.

The legislation originally was intended to only allow faculty and staff to carry concealed handguns at college campuses, but the bill expanded as it hit roadblocks in the Legislature.

The NRA backed the original bill but then dropped its support when it was amended to limit campus carry to people who were at least 25 years old and went through up to 16 hours of additional training. The gun rights group supported the version Hutchinson signed into law.

"This step goes a long way towards recognizing law-abiding people in this state have the right to defend themselves anywhere they have a legal right to be," Chris Cox, executive director of the NRA's Institute for Legislative Action, said at the news conference.

A 2013 law allows faculty and staff to carry concealed guns at colleges and universities in Arkansas, but only if the schools allowed it. None of the schools has opted to do so.

The measure signed Wednesday has faced opposition from university officials, who said the decision on whether to allow guns on campus should remain with the schools.