A Constitutional Amendment To Amend Arkansas Constitution, Article 2, § 5, To Protect The Right To Keep And Bear Arms.
SJR11 proposes a constitutional amendment to Arkansas Constitution Article 2, Section 5, expanding and clarifying the state constitutional right to keep and bear arms. The measure states that citizens have the right to keep and bear arms for common defense, lawful hunting and recreational use, and any other lawful purpose. It also expressly includes the possession and use of ammunition, firearm accessories, and firearm components within that right.
The resolution further declares the right to keep and bear arms to be a natural, fundamental, and individual right that shall not be infringed. It adds a heightened constitutional standard for any restriction on that right, providing that a restriction may be upheld only if it is narrowly tailored to serve a compelling state interest. If approved by voters, the amendment would take effect on January 1, 2027, and would appear on the general election ballot under the specified ballot title and popular name.
If adopted, SJR11 would amend the Arkansas Constitution itself rather than ordinary state statutes, strengthening constitutional protection for firearm ownership and use. It would likely affect future state and local gun regulations by requiring courts to apply a strict-scrutiny-like standard to restrictions on the right to keep and bear arms. The amendment could also influence litigation involving firearms, ammunition, accessories, and components, and would likely constrain the legislature’s ability to enact or defend gun-control measures that do not meet the new constitutional test.
The available voting history suggests the measure had substantial support in both chambers, with a 28-7 vote on third reading and an 86-10 vote when adopted and transmitted to the Senate. The bill text and title indicate a strongly pro-Second Amendment posture, and the broad language protecting firearms-related rights appears designed to appeal to supporters of gun rights, hunting, and recreational shooting. No committee transcript is available, so the record here reflects support inferred primarily from the votes and the resolution’s framing.
The main point of contention is the amendment’s broad constitutional protection for firearms and related items, especially the provision requiring any restriction to survive a compelling-interest, narrowly tailored test. Supporters are likely to view this as a strong safeguard for self-defense, hunting, and lawful recreational use, while opponents may worry it would make it harder to regulate firearms, ammunition, and accessories in areas such as public safety, licensing, or restrictions on certain weapons or components. The inclusion of “any other lawful purpose” and the explicit reference to accessories and components may also be seen as expanding the right beyond traditional firearm possession.