Forty-three states now allow gun owners to openly carry firearms. However, Arkansas is not among them. But a group is stepping up efforts to try to change that.

Nick Stehle walked the trails of Petit Jean Mountain Saturday; his wife beside him and their two-year-old in tow.

"I should be able to protect my wife and my kid," Stehle said.

Stehle is one of the newest members of Arkansas Carry, a grassroots organization looking to change Arkansas gun laws. Currently on the agenda is to make Arkansas an open-carry state.

"The biggest thing for me is: if I'm concealing it with my permit and I reach for a can of vegetables at Wal-Mart and it's exposed, technically, I've committed a crime," said Stehle.

Steve Jones, the organization's vice chairman, believes "We have a handgun law that is archaic, old and it needs to be changed."
Jones organized the 4.5 mile empty-holster protest hike. He says the group is working to get support for a bill rejected in Arkansas' Judicial Committee last year.

"It's still alive. And the legislature has what they call an interim study sessions; and what we're going to try to do is get that before one of the study sessions," he said. "And try to get them to look at it and see what maybe needs to be fixed up on the bill to get it passed."

According to Arkansas Carry, they are just trying to get the right that has been granted in 43 other states.  "It's my right," group visitor, John Arellanes said. "I support what they are doing."

Read more from Today's THV here.