Senate committee hears hours of testimony on proposed 'Anti‑ATF Commandeering' bill after fatal Little Rock raid

Senator Stubblefield presented Senate Bill 399, described in committee as the "Anti‑ATF Commandeering Act," and the panel adopted an amendment before hearing more than two hours of testimony both supporting and opposing the legislation.

The bill and its amendment would bar state and local officials from providing material aid or support to federal enforcement of certain federal firearms regulations, rules, executive orders, treaties or administrative orders, while including limited exceptions (for example, where a suspect is not a state resident or is not present in the state).

Supporters told the committee that the legislation is intended to protect Arkansans from federal overreach and to prevent local law enforcement from being used to execute federal searches and enforcement actions they characterized as unnecessary or dangerous. Leah Herron, who identified herself as a member of the board of Gun Owners of Arkansas and a firearms instructor, said the bill would protect citizens after recounting the March raid that killed Brian Malinowski and injured officers. “I believe that this act is very important to protect citizens in Arkansas from these unwarranted, with cameras off, looking for evidence,” Herron said. Another supporter, Jessica Rhee, described worries about an unannounced…