With this greater freedom however – there is a very important thing that should not be . . . → Read More: Training]]> Yesterday, Arizona’s Constitutional Carry law went into effect. This law reestablishes the right to keep and bear arms. It allows Arizonans who are lawfully able to own a firearm, to carry their firearm discreetly with out the need for a permit.

With this greater freedom however – there is a very important thing that should not be overlooked. Responsibility. Now, many Arizonans have been exercising their Second Amendment rights for some time, and are no stranger to the responsibility needed to go along with owning firearms – but there are many people who may now be carrying firearms who never did before.

Just this last weekend I was visiting a gun store in Payson Arizona when a couple came in asking “what will women be carrying in their purses now with this new law”. During their conversation with the shopkeeper it became very clear that while she had had experience with firearms – she had no notion of carrying one daily before now.

To get to my point: got a gun? Get some training. You owe it to yourself, and your neighbors to learn how to operate the firearm you are about to start carrying. Familiarize yourself with the gun laws in this state. Learn what you can and can not do and where you can and can not go.

There are many reputable training facilities and instructors in this state. Ask at your gun shop, or ask me.

When they pass this bill, I will start to solicit donations so that the homeless will be given guns. It’s dangerous on the streets. Nothing like a liquor store that sell guns, just use the . . . → Read More: Strange Comments Regarding Consitutional Carry]]> In response to the post I made about the Constitutional Carry bill supposedly being held up, a reader makes the following comment:

When they pass this bill, I will start to solicit donations so that the homeless will be given guns. It’s dangerous on the streets. Nothing like a liquor store that sell guns, just use the drive up window, get a gun and ammo and don’t forget the bourbon whiskey. There are those that shouldn’t have guns. Keep the C C W in place.

This comment is a good example of why a little education on the topic you are trying to discuss is a good thing.

March 11, 2010

Constitutional Carry moving in the House – get ready!

HB 2347, the House version of the AzCDL-requested Constitutional Carry bill, passed out of the House Rules committee on March 8th.  Its next stop is the House Committee of the Whole (COW) for debate and voice vote.  Unfortunately, bills are added . . . → Read More: More on Constitutional Carry in AZ]]> From AZCDL.org:

March 11, 2010

Constitutional Carry moving in the House – get ready!

HB 2347, the House version of the AzCDL-requested Constitutional Carry bill, passed out of the House Rules committee on March 8th.  Its next stop is the House Committee of the Whole (COW) for debate and voice vote.  Unfortunately, bills are added to COW calendars with very little advanced warning, so keep your keyboards ready for an “11th hour” email offensive.

SB 1108, the Senate version of Constitutional Carry, passed out of the Senate Appropriation Committee on March 8th by a 7-1 vote and is awaiting a review in the Senate Rules Committee before it progresses to the Senate COW.

We are picking up disinformation that is being spread about the Constitutional Carry bills, so let’s review their features. Article 2, Section 26 of the Arizona Constitution says that your preexisting right to bear arms “shall not be impaired.”  The Constitutional Carry bills restore that right by eliminating the prohibition and penalties currently in place for law-abiding adults who carry a concealed weapon without a CCW permit.

The Constitutional Carry bills also eliminate the confusion in interpreting the statutes regarding open carry and vehicle carry that have been clouded since 1994 by Appellate court decisions.  For all practical purposes the only current way to be sure you are legally carrying openly, or in your vehicle, is to have a CCW permit.

The CCW permit becomes optional – it is not eliminated.  Training requirements would be broadened to facilitate obtaining the optional permit.  The expanded training opportunities include allowing the use of NRA training, proof of military service, college level courses and training from an approved firearms training school (e.g., Gunsite, Front Sight).  Since these are similar to requirements in use by Florida and a number of other states, reciprocity should be unaffected.

A CCW permit will still be required to carry concealed into establishments that serve alcohol and to bypass the NICS check when purchasing a firearm from a licensed dealer.  Additionally, language has been added in HB 2347 & SB 1108 that exempts CCW permit holders from the requirement to be unarmed when entering a “nonsecure state and local government building.  A nonsecure building is one that doesn’t have the means to tightly control access by the general public.

The majority of rank and file law enforcement organizations are not opposing the Constitutional Carry bills.  Opposition remains from organizations representing the chiefs of police and some county attorneys, primarily political positions.

There are many still working to defeat Constitutional Carry in the legislature.  AzCDL is constantly working at the Capitol to count the supporters and influence the fence-sitters.  Constitutional Carry has a good chance of becoming law this year, but our success will be totally dependent on YOUR involvement.  When legislators hear from you, they get the message.  Get ready!

Head on over to AZCDL.org for more information and links to . . . → Read More: Arizona HB 2347]]> According to a little update I saw on Facebook, the AZ HB 2347 passed through the house rules committee and is now going to go to the Committee of the Whole. AZ HB 2347 is the house version of state senate bill 1102 (Constitutional Carry Bill).

Head on over to AZCDL.org for more information and links to contact the state politicians.

March 3, 2010

Constitutional Carry rescued in Senate.

On Friday, March 5th at 10 AM, the Senate Appropriations Committee will debate and vote on SB 1108.  The sponsor of SB 1108, Committee Chairman Senator Russell Pearce, has proposed a “strike everything” amendment that replaces SB 1108, in its entirety, with the intended . . . → Read More: Good News for Constitutional Carry in AZ]]> From AZCDL.org:

March 3, 2010

Constitutional Carry rescued in Senate.

On Friday, March 5th at 10 AM, the Senate Appropriations Committee will debate and vote on SB 1108.  The sponsor of SB 1108, Committee Chairman Senator Russell Pearce, has proposed a “strike everything” amendment that replaces SB 1108, in its entirety, with the intended language from SB 1102 (Constitutional Carry).

SB 1102, which was headed for a Senate floor vote, was derailed last week after the attachment of the Cheuvront amendment during the Senate Committee of the Whole (COW), creating a Class 4 Felony for private sellers of firearms who fail to verify a buyer’s citizenship when the sale is conducted at a gun show:

Now that we have a second bite at the apple, it’s critical we remind the Senate Appropriations Committee members to support the amended SB 1108.  A letter has been prepared and is waiting for you at our Action Center.

We have more good news.  Representative Frank Antenori, who sponsored the House version of Constitutional Carry (HB 2347), has been appointed to replace Senator Jonathan Paton who vacated his seat to run for the U.S. House of Representatives.  Senator Antenori is expected to be present when SB 1108 moves to the Senate floor for debate and vote.

Meanwhile, Senator Antenori’s House version of Constitutional Carry, HB 2347, passed out of the House Military Affairs and Public Safety (MAPS) Committee on February 3, 2010 and is awaiting a review by the House Rules Committee before heading to a floor debate in the House COW.

In other news, we are expecting SB 1168, the Senate version of the firearms preemption bill, to be scheduled for a Senate COW debate, hopefully this week.  When the calendar is posted, we will let you know via an Alert.

February 25, 2010

Constitutional Carry rides again!

SB 1102, the Senate version of Constitutional Carry may have been stalled by a few Senate Republicans “crossing the aisle” to vote with Democrats to add the Cheuvront amendment, but that doesn’t mean it’s “game over” for Constitutional Carry in Arizona.  We are working with Senator . . . → Read More: Constitutional Carry and Preemption in AZ]]> From AZCDL.org:

February 25, 2010

Constitutional Carry rides again!

SB 1102, the Senate version of Constitutional Carry may have been stalled by a few Senate Republicans “crossing the aisle” to vote with Democrats to add the Cheuvront amendment, but that doesn’t mean it’s “game over” for Constitutional Carry in Arizona.  We are working with Senator Russell Pearce, the bill’s sponsor, to find a way to move the Senate bill forward in its proper form.

Even though the situation in the Senate remains tenuous, all is still not lost.  AzCDL plans ahead!  At the beginning of this session, identical versions of Constitutional Carry were introduced in both the House and Senate.  The House version, HB 2347, was assigned to both the Judiciary and Military Affairs and Public Safety (MAPS) committees.  HB 2347 passed out of the MAPS Committee on February 3, 2010, by a 5-2 vote.  Though it didn’t seem to be moving in the House Judiciary Committee, Chairman Adam Driggs assured us that he supported the bill, and was only waiting to see that the concerns of stake holders had been addressed via negotiated amendments.  On Tuesday, February 23rd, true to his word, Representative Driggs withdrew HB 2347 from the Judiciary Committee.  It will now be scheduled for a review by the House Rules Committee before heading to a floor debate in the Committee of the Whole. Please take a minute to thank Chairman Driggs for his support.

Amendments were made to the bills mainly to address law enforcement’s concerns, but the underlying restoration of the right to carry concealed without a permit remains unchanged.  As a result, most rank and file law enforcement organizations have dropped their opposition to the Constitutional Carry bills.  The highlights of the current version of these bills include:

• Eliminating the prohibition and penalties for law-abiding adults who carry a concealed weapon without a permit in Arizona except in places, like restaurants serving alcohol, where the law requires a CCW permit.

• Increasing the penalties for criminals who carry a concealed weapon in the commission or attempted commission of a serious, violent, or major felony crime.

• Requiring a person carrying a concealed weapon to notify a Law Enforcement Officer, upon their request, that the person possesses a concealed weapon.

• Adding more training options for obtaining a CCW permit.

• Eliminating the storage requirement for CCW permit holders who enter a “non-secure” public building.

• Allowing LEOSA certified retired Law Enforcement Officers to carry on school grounds.

• Requiring confiscated firearms to be sold to an appropriate retailer rather than destroyed.

In other news, also on February 23rd, Representative Driggs released HB 2543, the House version of the firearms preemption bill, from his committee.  HB 2543 passed out of the House MAPS Committee on February 17th by a vote of 7-1 with a recommendation for passage by the full House.

SB 1168, the Senate version of the firearms preemption bill, passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on February 22nd by a vote of 4-3 with a recommendation for passage by the full Senate.

Both firearms preemption bills will be reviewed in their respective Rules Committees before proceeding to Committee of the Whole (COW) debates.

SB 1153, the knife preemption bill, passed in the Senate Third Read on February 22, 2010 by a vote of 20-9 with one member not voting.  It has been transmitted to the House.

On February 24, 2010, HCR 2008, which would, subject to voter approval, establish a Constitutional right to hunt and fish, passed out of the House MAPS Committee by a vote of 6-1 with one member voting present.

The restaurants website is www.MonkeyBurgerRestaurant.com. The site does not mention this anywhere that I can . . . → Read More: Burger Joint Offers Discounts to CCW Holders]]> I just saw the following status update on my facebook page:

As if reasonably-priced, top quality gormet burgers and excellent service were not enough… Tucson’s Monkey Burger now offers a discount to concealed carry permit holders. Please patronize this great new local business.

The restaurants website is www.MonkeyBurgerRestaurant.com. The site does not mention this anywhere that I can find, but I plan on calling them tomorrow to verify.

For you local Tucson folks, the restaurant is located at the Williams Center at Broadway and Craycroft.