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Senate panel narrows and approves a bill redefining 'journey' in weapons law amid prosecutors' and state police concerns

JUDICIARY COMMITTEE - SENATE · April 19, 2021
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Summary

The committee passed a bill clarifying the statutory definition of 'journey' and expanding a vehicle-as-extension-of-home exception for the weapons code; prosecutors and Arkansas State Police warned it could weaken the state's ability to charge unlawful possession and affect Fourth Amendment search standards.

Senators heard an extended debate over HB 1898, a measure that would clarify what counts as a "journey" for the weapons chapter of the Arkansas code and treat a vehicle in some circumstances as an extension of the home. Sponsor Senator Garner said the bill is intended to clean up ambiguous statutory language that—under current code—required leaving one's county to qualify as a journey.

Mary Claire McLaren, staff attorney for the Arkansas State Police, told the committee she was…

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