FAYETTEVILLE -- Rivals for Fayetteville's state Senate District 4 seat clashed from the start of a candidate's forum Tuesday over a proposed "red flag" law, with one of the candidates calling the debate futile because such a gun rights restriction will not pass the Legislature.
"We are spending all this time talking about a law that will not pass," Republican nominee Dawn Clemence of Fayetteville said at 7:35, more than halfway through the hour-long candidate's forum between her and state Rep. Greg Leding, D-Fayetteville. Except for opening remarks, all the forum discussion to that point was about the red flag legislation, which Leding proposes. Such a law would allow issuing an "extreme risk" warrant by a judge to order confiscation of guns from someone deemed a threat to himself or others. The forum was hosted by the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce and held at the Fayetteville Public Library.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a Republican who was chosen by the National Rifle Association in 2013 to lead a study on preventing school shootings, has said he is willing to consider such legislation as Leding proposes. This shows the effort to gain acceptance of staunch gun rights advocates is possible, Leding said. Progress is made by trying, he argued.
Leding pointed to other states, particularly Connecticut, that have passed such legislation since the late 1990s. He said a study by Duke University shows the measures achieved success in reducing gun deaths, particularly suicides. The proposal also protects gun owners' rights because due process is required to issue an extreme risk warrant. A hearing before a judge for the gun owner to protest the seizure would take place within three days of the warrant being issued under Leding's proposal.
Clemence noted that Connecticut's law restricts the power to ask for such a warrant to law enforcement authorities. Leding's draft bill would "allow anyone in this room to turn them in," she said. Abusive spouses could abuse the bill to disarm their victims, she argued. Leding replied the proposed bill includes a provision punishing those who falsely or spitefully abuse the approach.
Leding's proposal is an example of his penchant for filing attention-getting bills that make headlines but go nowhere, she said. Leding replied he represents what is "probably the most progressive House district in the state." A lawmaker has the responsibility to fight for what his constituents want, he said. Clemence argued that what the Senate district's constituents want are tangible results, particularly on jobs training to enable them to earn higher pay.
The candidates did agree the state needed to do more for mental health care, both to reduce gun violence and in general. Leding added, though, that emphasis on mental health unfairly stigmatizes people with mental health issues since many mass shooters do not show outward signs of mental illness before they attack.
NW News on 10/10/2018