LT Governor Mike Darr: Makes Arkansas Gun-Permit Records Private Under New Law, In A Rare Maneuver

While Governor Mike Beebe was away attending a National Governors Association meeting in Washington.,  Lieutenant Governor Mark Darr,  a Republican, Signed into law a bill that would Exempt  public disclosure of the names and zip codes of gun owners, those with permits to carry concealed weapons and applicants for gun permits.

In a rare maneuver allowed under Arkansas law, Lieutenant Governor Mark Darr, a Republican, signed the bill into law while Democratic Governor Mike Beebe was attending a National Governors Association meeting in Washington over the weekend.

Darr signed Senate Bill 131 by Sen. Bruce Holland, R-Greenwood, which exempts the names and zip codes of concealed weapon permit holders and applicants from the state Freedom of Information Act. The bill is now Act 145.

Darr was acting governor Friday while Beebe was in Washington for a weekend meeting of the National Governors Association. Beebe is scheduled to be back in the state Monday.

Beebe had said he had no plans to veto the bill but planned to let it become law without his signature. The bill will become law Monday.

Darr said Friday he felt there was an immediate need to sign the bill. “Having been an outspoken advocate for Second Amendment rights, I felt passionately that there should be no delays in signing this bill into law,” Darr said in a news release.

“Within the bill is an emergency clause which states that once this bill is signed the state of Arkansas can no longer publicly release records concerning persons licensed to carry a concealed handgun or those applying for such a license,” Darr said. “The release of such records is an invasion of privacy and threatens the safety and property of the persons identified.”

This is a huge victory for the gun owners of Arkansas. Thank you Mike Darr. 

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