Professor-Carry Bill Signed Into Law

Collins is seen, left, with House Speaker Davy Carter, R-Cabot.

Gov. Mike Beebe signed the professor-carry bill into law Friday (March 1), allowing public university, college and community college faculty and staff with a concealed-carry permit to take a concealed handgun onto campus.

HB1243 by Rep. Charlie Collins, R-Fayetteville, now Act 226, cleared the House and Senate last month.

The governing board of each campus has the ability under the law to vote annually whether to opt-out and not allow licensed faculty and staff to carry concealed firearms.

The governing board also has the authority to ban concealed handguns in areas of the campus or individual buildings.

The storage of a handgun in a dormitory or residence hall is prohibited under the law.

Collins introduced similar legislation in the 2011 session, but the measure was unsuccessful. This year, with Republican controlling the House and Senate for the first time since the years following the Civil War, Collins introduced another version of the professor-carry bill.

Before it cleared the Legislature this year, Beebe, a Democrat, indicated he probably would sign it.