Data

General Issues
Governance & Political Institutions
Specific Topics
Arms Control
Collections
UA Clinton School of Public Service Students
Location
Arkansas
United States
Scope of Influence
Regional
Start Date
End Date
Ongoing
No
Time Limited or Repeated?
A single, defined period of time
Purpose/Goal
Make, influence, or challenge decisions of government and public bodies
Approach
Advocacy
Open to All or Limited to Some?
Open to All
General Types of Methods
Community development, organizing, and mobilization
General Types of Tools/Techniques
Propose and/or develop policies, ideas, and recommendations
Legality
Yes
Face-to-Face, Online, or Both
Both
Types of Interaction Among Participants
Express Opinions/Preferences Only
Formal Testimony
Storytelling
Primary Organizer/Manager
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
Evidence of Impact
Yes
Types of Change
Changes in public policy
Implementers of Change
Lay Public

CASE

How Arkansas Moms Stopped SB484

May 12, 2022 akennard
March 25, 2022 akennard
General Issues
Governance & Political Institutions
Specific Topics
Arms Control
Collections
UA Clinton School of Public Service Students
Location
Arkansas
United States
Scope of Influence
Regional
Start Date
End Date
Ongoing
No
Time Limited or Repeated?
A single, defined period of time
Purpose/Goal
Make, influence, or challenge decisions of government and public bodies
Approach
Advocacy
Open to All or Limited to Some?
Open to All
General Types of Methods
Community development, organizing, and mobilization
General Types of Tools/Techniques
Propose and/or develop policies, ideas, and recommendations
Legality
Yes
Face-to-Face, Online, or Both
Both
Types of Interaction Among Participants
Express Opinions/Preferences Only
Formal Testimony
Storytelling
Primary Organizer/Manager
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
Evidence of Impact
Yes
Types of Change
Changes in public policy
Implementers of Change
Lay Public

The United States, Arkansas chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America mobilized to actively oppose SB484 otherwise known as “ The Stand Your Ground Bill” during the 2019 legislative session. The bill failed to pass in a 3-4 vote on April 2, 2019.

Problems and Purpose:

The purpose of the pressure campaign by the United States, Arkansas chapter of Moms Demand Action was to stop senate bill 484 (SB484) otherwise referred to as the “Stand your Ground” (SYG) bill from passing during the 2019 Arkansas legislative session[1]. A stand your ground law states that if a person is threatened or perceives themselves to be threatened they are not obligated to leave the situation even if they are able to safely retreat, instead they can use deadly force to “protect themselves” and it may be justified under a SYG law [2]. 


Background History and Context:

Moms Demand Action was founded by Shannon Watts on December 15, 2012, the day after the Sandy Hook massacre [3]. The Sandy Hook Massacre refers to a school shooting that murder elementary school children in Conneticut. Moms is a grassroots movement fighting to prevent gun violence by helping pass common-sense gun legislation and educating the public on gun safety. There is a chapter of volunteers in every state in the nation and D.C., with more than 6 million volunteer members [4]. Moms Demand Action partnered with Mayors Against Illegal Guns and formed Everytown for Gun Safety to create the largest anti-gun violence movement in the country[5].

 The Arkansas Moms Demand Action chapter currently has more than 2,000 members. The chapter grew by hundreds within two years. In 2017 the chapter had just 28 members [6]. Now the chapter has local groups all over the state and functions like a machine, with people assigned to different roles and duties to work more efficiently[7]. Since Arkansas is a very rural hunting and gun-owning state, the Arkansas chapter has had to play defense during the legislative sessions. Instead of trying to push “good” bills onto the floor, the Arkansas Moms are trying to make sure “bad” bills don’t pass through the chambers[8]. 

Current Arkansas law states that a person is allowed to protect themselves; however you have the duty to retreat if it is safely possible [9]. SYG allows the person to “shoot to kill” in a public space without having to retreat [4]. Stand your ground bills have passed in 28 states around the nation; Arkansas is the only southern state that does not have some version of this law on the books [11].

The Supreme Court decisions in District of Columbia v. Heller and McDonald v. City of Chicago have changed the landscape of gun regulation in this country. In 2008 the Supreme Court heard a case involving Dick Heller. He sued the District of Columbia over its ban of handguns [12]. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Heller and changed the federal law to say it is an individual’s right to own a handgun for home defense and self-protection [13]. In 2010 Otis McDonald sued the city of Chicago because the Heller ruling only applied to the federal law, states still had the right to ban handguns. The Supreme Court ultimately decided with McDonald, making it illegal for states to ban handguns, aligning the case with federal law[14]. These two changes in the law opened up gun laws to be interpreted by the states and the lower courts[15]. Since then many states have loosened the laws around gun regulation. This has led to an increase in the total number of guns America now has on the streets [16].

Organizing, Supporting, and Funding Entities:


The process was organized by the Arkansas Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gunsense in America. Moms Demand Action partners nationally with EVERYTOWN for Gun Safety. Moms Demand Action saw this as the most dangerous bill being brought to the floor in Arkansas[17]. However, Stand Your Ground had enough groups speaking against it that even in a Republican supermajority southern state that has passed laws that expand gun-owners’ rights before, it seemed like a fight that could be won. The Arkansas chapter of Moms worked against this bill in conjunction with other groups in Arkansas, including the Arkansas Sheriff’s Association and the Prosecuting Attorney’s office who were also against the bill as written[18].


Participant Recruitment and Selection:

The means of selection are self-selection and targeted recruitment; however, the overall recruitment of Moms is an ongoing process. For this particular event Moms reached out to everyone in their data base through text blasts, The Arkansas Moms Facebook, account, and personal Twitter and Instagram accounts of members. The majority of participants were women of all different ages; some men participated too. There were also gun violence survivors who participated. The total number who participated during the entire legislative session is unknown, but 120 Moms participated in the Advocacy Day at the capitol and they came from different counties around the state [19].

Methods and Tools Used:

Moms volunteers collect phone numbers and emails at every event or group meeting they conduct, which are then put into a database and organized. This enables the group to deliver text blasts at a moment’s notice when they need Moms to show up at the capitol or to call their Representatives. They also have a major social media presence. They call for participation on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Moms live tweet the legislative hearings urging people to flood the capitol with calls to thank their Reps or tell them they don’t agree with the way they are voting. They wear bright red shirts to call attention to themselves and in order to identify as a group. Moms also signed up to give testimony during hearings on why SB484 is a bad bill for Arkansas. Moms also delivered a petition with over 2,000 signatures against SB484[20]. In addition to these methods, protests also took place.


What Went On: Process, Interaction, and Participation:

Moms kicked off the 2019 legislative session with an advocacy day in Little Rock, Arkansas at the capitol on February 12, 2019 with over 120 people participating [21]. Advocacy day events are held nation-wide during legislative sessions to inform the representatives and senators of each state that Moms Demand Action groups are watching each session closely. Advocacy day is also used as a lobby day to talk to representatives and senators about gun violence issues and see where they stand. Moms advertised for it on all social media sites. There were at minimum two Moms at every hearing during the legislative session but for most hearings in which they anticipated any gun legislation might be brought to the floor there were around seven. Moms signed to speak against the bill each time it was brought up [22]. On April 8, 2019 about 40 Moms lined the steps to the Senate chambers as the senators walked up the steps to vote on the floor[23].

Moms successfully targeted Senator Cooper a Republican from District 21who became the deciding vote and the reason SYG failed in committee on April 24, 2019.

 Moms in every district continually called their representatives and senators to vote no on SB484. When they began to lean towards a no vote the phone calls switched to thank you calls.  

Influence, Outcomes, and Effects:

The Arkansas legislature was unable to pass a number of gun bills in the 2019 session, including HB 1059/SB484 (Stand your Ground).Therefore, this participatory process achieved its purpose. Sen. Ballinger has said he will bring the measure back next session [24]. Since the defeat of SYG Arkansas Moms has seen an increase in participation and a number of new members; and there has been a steady uptick in membership throughout the 2019 year. There has been a greater sense of empowerment among the Arkansas Moms chapter after the 2019 legislative session [25].

Analysis and Lessons Learned:

The Arkansas Moms chapter was particularly effective in the 2019 legislative session. Although the successful blocking of SB484 cannot be solely contributed to Arkansas Moms, several news sources and government officials have given credit to them for their persistence and presence in the hearing rooms and the capitol hallways the entire session[26]. In a state like Arkansas, with a Republican supermajority, a group of Moms was able to dominate the conversation around gun control and keep the hearings in the media. That’s success!

See Also:

References:

[1] Senate Bill 484. (2019, April 03). [PDF file] Retrieved from http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2019/2019R/Bills/SB484.pdf

[2] National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).(2018). Self-defense and stand your ground. Retrieved from http://www.ncsl.org/research/civil-and-criminal-justice/self-defense-and-stand-your-ground.aspx

[3]Watts, S.(2019). “Fight like a Mother: How a Grassroots Movement Took on the Gun Lobby and Why Women Will Change the World.” New York : HarperCollins Publishing. 5

[4] Watts, S.(2019). “Fight like a Mother: How a Grassroots Movement Took on the Gun Lobby and Why Women Will Change the World.” : New York: HarperCollins Publishing. 8

[5] Everytown (2013). Mayors against illegal guns and moms demand action to join forces, unite a national movement to protect communities and save lives. Retrieved from https://everytown.org/press/mayors-against-illegal-guns-and-moms-demand-action-to-join-forces/

[6] Jorgensen, E. (2018, November 22). Moms demands, gets results. Retrieved from https://arktimes.com/columns/guest-writer/2018/11/22/moms-demand-get-results

[7] J, Scott. (2019, October 15). Personal interview.

[8] J, Scott. (2019, October 15). Personal interview.

[9] Find Law. (N.D.). Arkansas code title 5. criminal offenses S 5-2-607. use of deadly physical force in defense of a person. Retrieved from https://codes.findlaw.com/ar/title-5-criminal-offenses/ar-code-sect-5-2-607.html

[10] Everytown For Gun Safety (2019). The inherent dangers of stand your ground laws. Retrieved from https://everytownresearch.org/fact-sheet-stand-your-ground/

[11] Find Law (N.D.) States that have stand your ground laws. Retrieved from https://criminal.findlaw.com/criminal-law-basics/states-that-have-stand-your-ground-laws.html

[12] Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence (N.D.) [PDF file] The supreme court and the second amendment. Retrieved from https://lawcenter.giffords.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Supreme-Court-and-the-Second-Amendm

[13] Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence (N.D.) [PDF file] The supreme court and the second amendment. Retrieved from https://lawcenter.giffords.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Supreme-Court-and-the-Second-Amendm

[14] Case Brief (N.D.). McDonald v. City of Chicago. Retrieved from https://www.casebriefs.com/blog/law/constitutional-law/constitutional-law-keyed-to-brest/liberty-equality-and-fundamental-rights-the-constitution-the-family-and-the-body/mcdonald-v-city-of-chicago/

[15] Congressional Research Service (2019, March 25). [PDF file]. Post-Heller second amendment jurisprudence. Retrieved from https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R44618.pdf

[16] Everytown for Gun Safety (2019). Gun violence in America. Retrieved from https://everytownresearch.org/gun-violence-america/?source=etno_ETHomePage&utm_source=et_n_&utm_medium=_o&utm_campaign=ETHomePage

[17] J, Scott. (2019, October 15). Personal interview

[18] J, Scott. (2019, October 15). Personal interview

[19] L, Hall. (2019, October 25). Personal interview.

[20] Turnure, J. (2019). 2019 session: ‘stand your ground’ bill could make a comeback. Retrieved from https://www.kark.com/news/2019-session-stand-your-ground-bill-could-make-comeback/

[21] Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/MomsDemandActionAR/videos/vb.149955625176361/443479472859256/?type=2&theater

[22] Moms Demand Action. (2019). Victory for gun sense: Arkansas moms demand action, everytown applaud defeat of dangerous bills this session [Press release]. Retrieved from https://arktimes.com/columns/guest-writer/2018/11/22/moms-demand-get-results

[23] Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/MomsDemandActionAR/photos/pcb.1194232674081979/1194232597415320/?type=3&theater

[24] Brantley, M. (2019, April 8). Sen. Ballinger retreats- gives up on ‘stand your ground’ bill for this legislative session. Retrieved from https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2019/04/08/sen-ballinger-retreats-gives-up-on-stand-your-ground-bill-for-this-legislative-session

[25] L, Hall (2019, October 25) Personal interview

[26] Brantley, M. (2019, April 25). Gun safety group played a successful defense at legislative session. Retrieved from https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2019/04/25/gun-safety-group-played-successful-defense-at-legislative-session



External Links:

https://legiscan.com/AR/bill/SB484/2019


Notes

The first version of this case entry was written by Liz Hall, a Master of Public Service candidate at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, and then edited. The views expressed in the entry are those of the authors, editors, or cited sources, and are not necessarily those of the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service.