A Stand Your Ground bill backed by the National Rifle Association will be heard by the State House Judiciary Committee Tuesday. The bill, Senate Bill 24, will strengthen Arkansans’ fundamental right to self-defense according to the NRA. Opponents say the “stand your ground” defenses are disproportionately successful in cases where the victim is Black. Supporters of the bill say that those statistics are flawed. SB 24, presented by Republican State Sen. Bob Ballinger, passed the State Senate Judiciary Committee by a 5-2 vote earlier this month.
Republican State Senator Jim Hendren from Sulpher Springs and Democratic State Senator Stephanie Flowers from Pine Bluff were the two “no” votes. Flowers spoke last year on the subject.
