Arkansas Senator walks out during debate over amending state self-defense laws; panel rejects bill

Arkansas Senator walks out during debate over amending state self-defense laws; panel rejects bill
Legislation that would eliminate the "duty to retreat" from Arkansas' self-defense laws was narrowly voted down in a Senate committee meeting Wednesday evening, after hours of testimony against the measure from gun-control groups, law enforcement, prosecutors and civil-rights advocates.

Efforts to pass similar legislation -- known as "stand your ground laws" -- date back at least a decade in Arkansas. All have failed under both Democratic and Republican legislatures.

Debate over Senate Bill 484, which stretched into the early evening, reached a crescendo as Sen. Stephanie Flowers, D-Pine Bluff, raised her voice in a plea against a successful attempt by other members of the Judiciary Committee to limit debate.