SB405
To Amend The Classification Of The Offense Of Possession Of A Handgun By A Minor.
Last Action (March 10, 2023): Sine Die adjournment
Sponsors
AI-Generated Summary
Senate Bill 405 amends the Arkansas Code regarding the possession of a handgun by a minor. Under current law, possession of a handgun by a person under eighteen is generally classified as a Class A misdemeanor. This bill establishes specific conditions under which the offense is elevated to a Class D felony. These conditions include prior adjudications for delinquency or felony convictions, possessing more than one handgun, possessing a handgun while engaged in criminal activity, or possessing a handgun within 1,000 feet of a drug-free zone. The bill clarifies and expands the circumstances that trigger felony charges for minors found with handguns.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries are intended to be public safety and law enforcement entities, as the bill provides stricter penalties for minors possessing handguns under specific, high-risk circumstances, which may serve as a deterrent to juvenile handgun possession and related criminal activity.
Who Might Suffer?
The individuals most directly and negatively impacted are minors under the age of eighteen who are found to be in possession of a handgun. These individuals face significantly harsher legal consequences, transitioning from potential misdemeanor charges to felony charges, which carry more severe sentencing, longer-term legal records, and greater long-term repercussions for their future employment and legal standing.
Get Notified
Receive an email when this bill's status changes.