Arkansas Sends Improved State Constitutional Right to Keep and Bear Arms to the Ballot

 The Arkansas Capitol

The Arkansas legislature is sending an improvement of the state constitution’s right to keep and bear arms language to the ballot for the next election. Here is the current Arkansas Constitution  Article 2, § 5:

Right to Bear Arms

The citizens of this State shall have the right to keep and bear arms, for their common defense.

The current language is problematic because it only mentions “common defense” and does not specifically mention individual rights, although individual rights are implied. Arkansas became a Constitutional Carry state on April 4th, 2013. On April 12, 2023, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee signed SB480 into law, clarifying that Arkansas was a Constitutional Carry state.

SJR11 passed the Senate on Thursday, April 10, 2025, on a vote of 28-7.  Arkansas SJR11 would change the Arkansas Constitution Article 2, § 5 to read as follows:

 SECTION 1. INTENT OF AMENDMENT. It is the intent of this amendment to the Arkansas Constitution to protect the right to keep and bear arms guaranteed under the Arkansas Constitution.

SECTION 2. Arkansas Constitution, Article 2, § 5, is amended to read as follows:

§ 5. Right to keep and bear arms.

(a) The citizens of this State shall have the right to keep and bear arms, for:

(1) their Their common defense;
(2) Lawful hunting and recreational use; and
(3) Any other lawful purpose.

(b) The right to keep and bear arms under subsection (a) of this
section includes without limitation the possession and use of:

(1) Ammunition;
(2) Firearm accessories; and
(3) Firearm components.

(c) The right to keep and bear arms under subsection (a) of this section is a natural, fundamental, and individual right that shall not be infringed

The House approved the measure on April 15. The vote was 86 to 10, with 2 not voting.  SJR11 was enrolled and sent to the Governor on April 16, 2025.

The Arkansas legislature  adjourned on April 16, 2025.

In Arkansas, it is easier than most states to pass a state constitutional amendment. From Ballotpedia:

A simple majority vote is required during one legislative session for the Arkansas State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 51 votes in the Arkansas House of Representatives and 18 votes in the Arkansas State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor’s signature to be referred to the ballot. 

Analysis:

The legislature has approved the constitutional amendment to  be on the ballot.  There are strategic reasons for placing a Right to Keep and Bear Arms measure on the ballot. Such measures enhance turnout by patriotic Second Amendment supporters, who tend to vote for Republicans. These amendments typically pass with high percentages of 60% to 75% of those voting.  The next Arkansas election is scheduled for November of 2026, concurrent with the Federal mid-term elections. Whether President Trump will be able to make structural changes in the United States Government will depend, in large part, on his ability to have Republicans keep control of the House and Senate in the mid-term elections of 2026.

It makes sense for Republicans to place SJR11 on the ballot for 2026. This correspondent predicts it will pass with more than 70% of the vote.

©2025 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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