Opinion ID: 1685769
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Carrying a weapon

Text: Mr. Jones finally contends his conviction for carrying a weapon, in violation of § 5-73-120, violates his Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. When he was stopped in his vehicle he was found to have a pistol in his pocket. Section 5-73-120(a) regulates the possession of a handgun in a vehicle, providing in pertinent part: A person commits the offense of carrying a weapon if he possesses a handgun, knife, or club on or about his person, in a vehicle occupied by him, or otherwise readily available for use with a purpose to employ it as a weapon against a person. The Statute provides several exceptions to the general rule stated, but Mr. Jones does not contend he comes within any of them. Rather, he rails against any restriction upon the bearing of arms. Long ago we made it clear that the State may, as a matter of its police power, place appropriate restrictions on one's right to bear arms. See Haile v. State, 38 Ark. 564 (1882); Wilson v. State, 33 Ark. 557 (1878); Fife v. State, 31 Ark. 455 (1876); Carroll v. State, 28 Ark. 99 (1872). Affirmed.