Copyrighted by SPRINGDALE CODE & Municipal Code Corporation, 1998.

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Sec. 74-9. Carrying a weapon.

(a) A person commits the offense of carrying a weapon if he possesses a handgun, knife, club or crossbow, bow and arrow or other similar device 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.

(b) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

Club means any instrument that is specially designed, made or adapted for the purpose of inflicting serious physical injury or death by striking, including a blackjack, billie and sap.

Handgun means any firearm with a barrel length of less than 12 inches that is designed, made, or adapted to be fired with one hand.

Knife means any bladed hand instrument that is capable of inflicting serious physical injury or death by cutting or stabbing. It includes a dirk, sword or spear in a cane, razor, ice pick and a throwing star, switchblade and butterfly knife.

(c) It is a defense to a prosecution under this section that at the time of the act of carrying, the person is:

(1) In his own dwelling or place of business or on property in which he has a possessory or proprietary interest;

(2) A law enforcement officer, prison guard, or member of the armed forces, acting in the course and scope of his official duties;

(3) Assisting a law enforcement officer, prison guard, or member of the armed forces acting in the course and scope of official duties pursuant to the direction or request of the law enforcement officer, prison guard, or member of the armed forces;

(4) Carrying a weapon when upon a journey;

(5) A licensed security guard acting in the course and scope of his duties;

(6) Hunting game with a handgun or crossbow, bow and arrow or other similar device which may be hunted with such a weapon under rules and regulations of the state game and fish commission or is en route to or from a hunting area for the purpose of hunting game with such a weapon; or

(7) A certified law enforcement officer.

(d) Any person who carries a weapon into an establishment that sells alcoholic beverages shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of not more than $2,500.00 or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both. Otherwise, carrying a weapon is subject to the punishment in section 1-9.

(e) Every person convicted of any violation of this section shall forfeit to the city all such weapons whether concealed or displayed.

(Code 1973, § 22-20)

State law reference(s)--Similar provisions, A.C.A. § 5-73-120.

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