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Committee approves resolution to send constitutional gun‑rights amendment to ballot after public testimony
Summary
The committee voted to approve Senate Joint Resolution 11, a proposed Arkansas constitutional amendment affirming an individual right to keep and bear arms and explicitly protecting ammunition, accessories and components; the measure will be referred to voters.
The House committee approved Senate Joint Resolution 11, a proposed constitutional amendment that would state the right to keep and bear arms is "a natural fundamental and individual right" and explicitly include "ammunition, accessories, and components." Senator Payton and Representative Duffield presented the measure and answered questions from committee members before several opponents offered public testimony.
Senator Payton, who described the amendment as a short and clear ballot question for voters, told the committee the change would clarify that the Arkansas Constitution recognizes the right as an individual right and that the measure would be referred to voters. "The popular name shall be a constitutional amendment to amend Arkansas constitution article 2 paragraph 5 to protect the right to keep and bear arms," he said.
Representative Collins and other members questioned how the amendment would interact with existing state restrictions and federal law. "Would things like silencers or other regulated devices be affected?" Collins asked; supporters said existing federal restrictions would remain in place. The sponsor said the amendment was intended as a clarification of longstanding judicial understandings, not an expansion.
Two members of the public spoke in opposition. Anna Morchetti, representing herself, warned that the amendment’s phrase "without limitation" could be used to challenge limits on accessories or to impede enforcement against felons or domestic abusers. "Declaring that the right to keep and bear arms includes, quote, without limitation, end quote, to the possession of ammunition, accessories, and components could open the door to legal challenges that actually undermine responsible gun ownership," she said. Whit Hall, a pediatrician who lost a grandson to gun violence, also opposed the measure and said it could lock in protections for high‑capacity magazines and bump stocks.
After closing remarks from the sponsors, Representative Berry moved to "do pass." The committee approved the resolution on a voice vote; the chair announced "the ayes have it" and the measure was passed out of committee to be referred to the ballot process.
Ending: SJR 11 was approved by the committee and will be referred to the ballot process for voter consideration. Committee minutes show public testimony both for and against the measure; supporters say it clarifies existing rights, while opponents warned the amendment’s broad language could limit regulation of accessories.
