On March 23, the USA Today newspaper and its Web site, "The Big Lead," responded with a prominent opinion piece recommending a boycott of National College Athletic Association events in Arkansas, to protest the fact that those who undergo proper training and acquire a proper permit will now be "allowed" to carry concealed firearms for self-defense on campuses there.

"A new gun rights measure signed yesterday could allow concealed weapons to be carried into Arkansas football and basketball games as early as 2018," noted senior writer Kyle Koster. "Opposing teams should consider boycotting participating in these games should this become a reality in practice. Not due to any political motivation or stand against the law, but because there is a reasonable case to be made that this will put them in an unsafe position.