LITTLE ROCK, Ark — A controversial Stand Your Ground bill that passed the Arkansas Senate was voted down in the House Committee Tuesday, effectively stopping the bill from becoming law.
The Senate panel previously voted in favor of loosening restrictions on the use of deadly force in self-defense last month before it was sent to the House.
The bill failed on a voice vote after a long committee meeting where opponents spoke against the proposal.
There were 25 people set to testify in front of the committee.
"Arkansas' existing self-defense laws already efficiently give people the right to protect themselves," said Kate Fletcher with Moms Demand Action Arkansas.
"We recognize peoples' rights and we don't make them back down," said Paul Calvert who was for the bill.
A similar proposal failed two years ago after State Senator Stephanie Flowers (D- Pine Bluff) made an impassioned speech against the proposal invoking the fear of gun violence her children and other African-Americans feel in her crime-plagued district.
A recording of Sen. Flowers' testimony went viral on social media.
Senator Bob Ballinger who proposed the bill says a motion will be made tomorrow to pull the bill from the committee and send it straight to the House floor.
Currently, 25 states across the U.S. have 'Stand Your Ground' laws in place.
We will update this article with more information as it becomes available.