Arizona: Constitutional Carry Bill filed for 2010
The Arizona 2010 legislative session swung into gear last week, and via the Arizona Citizens Defense League Alerts, I have learned that SB1102 and HB2347 are this years’ Constitutional Carry bills. I’m pleased to see that both of my state representatives are co-sponsoring these bills. Last year we had a good chance of passing a similar bill, but unrelated budget negotiations caused it and many other bills to stall in committee. Here’s the text of the alert:
AzCDL has been laying the groundwork for Constitutional Carry since we began: http://www.azcdl.org/html/our_goals.html . In the last two legislative sessions we came very close. This year Senator Russell Pearce, along with 16 co-sponsors, filed SB 1102, and Representative Frank Antenori, along with 17 co-sponsors, filed HB 2347. Both bills have the following features:
- Eliminate the prohibition and penalties for adults carrying a concealed weapon without a permit.
- Include defensive display in the justification for deadly force (similar to HB 2015 & SB 1021).
- Allow CCW permit holders to carry in “non-secure” public buildings.
- Remove the unloaded firearm requirement when picking up and dropping off school students.
- Allow LEOSA certified retired Law Enforcement Officers to carry on school grounds.
- Require confiscated firearms to be sold rather than destroyed.
- Eliminate the training requirement to obtain a CCW permit.We urge everyone to send a thank you note to Senator Pearce (rpearce@azleg.gov) and Representative Antenori (fantenori@azleg.gov) for introducing these bills. If your Senator and/or Representatives co-sponsored SB 1102 or HB 2347 please send them a thank you message. If they are not a co-sponsor, we urge you contact them and ask why not. You can find the co-sponsors of SB 1102 here:
http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/legtext/49leg/2r/bills/sb1102o.asp .You can find the co-sponsors of HB 2347 here:
http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/legtext/49leg/2r/bills/hb2347o.asp .
You can find contact information for your legislators here:
http://www.azleg.gov/alisStaticPages/HowToContactMember.asp .We are expecting a firestorm from the anti-rights zealots, so we will be asking your help to ensure the passage of SB 1102 & HB 2347 throughout this legislative session. Warm up your keyboards!
SB 1102 & HB 2437 aren’t the only important bills we’re expecting this year. For months, AzCDL has been working behind the scenes with pro-rights legislators on a number of paradigm shifting bills. Stay tuned!
Meanwhile, other bills are still being filed. Senators have until February 1, 2010 to introduce bills and the deadline in the House is February 8, 2010. Along with Constitutional Carry, the following firearm related bills have been filed:
HB 2015 (Burges) – Adds defensive display of a firearm as an alternative to, or in conjunction with, the use of deadly physical force.
HB 2016 (Burges) – Allows out of state applicants whose rights have been restored to obtain a CCW permit under the same conditions as Arizona residents.
HB 2017 (Burges) – Clarifies that NRA instructors may teach the school gun safety courses.
HB 2041 (Kavanagh) – Adds school districts, charter schools, community colleges and state universities to the definition of political subdivisions where a law enforcement officer may carry a firearm.
HB 2201 (Lujan) – Creates a crime for firearm “Straw Purchases” made in Arizona. AzCDL opposes this bill.
HB 2271 (Ableser) – Increases the penalty for possessing a firearm at a post-secondary institution from a misdemeanor to a class 6 felony. AzCDL opposes this bill.
HB 2307 (Antenori) – Exempts firearms manufactured and sold in Arizona from Federal oversight.
HB 2406 (Antenori) – Clarifies the “no firearms” signage requirements for restaurants. Also changes the affirmative defense language to “not an offense.” Finally, it restores the requirement that a person “knows the possession of a firearm is prohibited” in an establishment.
HB 2543 (Gowan) – Strengthens state firearms preemption laws, adds firearms storage and reloading components to the list of things political subdivisions cannot regulate, and removes the prohibition on carrying a firearm in public parks without a CCW permit.
SB 1011 (Harper) – Allows college/university faculty members with CCW permits to possess a concealed firearm on campus.
SB 1015 (Harper) – Similar to HB 2406.
SB 1021 (Pearce) – Identical to HB 2015.
SB 1098 (Pearce) – Identical to HB 2307.
SB 1101 (Pearce) – Expands the list of law enforcement officers exempt from concealed weapons permit requirements.
As bills are filed, we will add them to our website: http://www.azcdl.org/html/2010_bills.html .
These alerts are a project of the Arizona Citizens Defense League (AzCDL), an all volunteer, non-profit, non-partisan grassroots organization. Join today! http://www.azcdl.org/html/join_us_.html
AzCDL – Protecting Your Freedom
http://www.azcdl.org/html/accomplishments.htmlCopyright © 2009 Arizona Citizens Defense League, Inc., all rights reserved.
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I’m a bit disappointed in these bills. The bill introduced last year, SB1270, amended the law to be much more like Vermont-style carry, removing the requirement to have a CCW permit for most reasons. Perhaps these new bills will be amended to be a bit more liberal.
Edited: I totally misread those bills. They do bring Vermont-style carry to Arizona just like last year’s bill did. Woot!
February 4th, 2010 at 09:18
SB 1102 is an irresponsible bill… I am an NRA cetified instructor, and a DPS certified instructor, so while I am all for arming the comon citizen I don’t think it is too much to ask that a person attend a simple 8 hour class that explains the laws pertaining to carrying, the liabilities, and BASIC marksmanship. We, are a must issue state… as long as you jump through the simple hoop, you get your permit; is it too much to ask that people get a little safety training? From my experiences as an instructor there are A LOT of people that have A LOT of SERIOUS misconceptions about guns, safety, and personal defense.
February 4th, 2010 at 19:15
I disagree, Adam. There is no class required to exercise one’s right to free speech or to become a ‘journalist’ and claim a right to freedom of the press. There should be no class required to exercise one’s right to self-defense. As you well know, open carry is completely legal in this state without any sort of instruction, permit, or background check, so there is nothing stopping those ignorant folks you see in your classes right now from walking around heeled. Vermont and Alaska both allow concealed carry without a permit and they aren’t exactly brimming with reports of the bearers of concealed weapons abusing their right to bear arms.
I understand your trepidation, but I think that it is misplaced. The fear that concealed weapons in general and unlicensed concealed weapons in particular lead to bloodbaths and senseless murders has not been shown to be warranted in any case.
February 11th, 2010 at 18:14
Both Adam and Eseell make valid points. I, too, am an NRA and DPS certified instructor who feels the 8-hour training class is beneficial. As a RIGHT, the possession and use of a firearm is guaranteed but the PROPER usage ought to be encouraged.
My first CCW was issued in Detroit and, I can assure you, required many hoops to be jumped through. After moving here to Arizona I was required to jump through a few more hoops which I did at GunSight. In my opinion, a person can never receive too much training and guidance where the use of deadly force may be necessary.
Perhaps a modified, voluntary training program would appeal to “the Masses” if provided at a low cost. I would also suggest that any and all youngsters be included at NO COST to better educate them to the dangers associated with the mis-handling of ANY firearm.