Arizona passes Bill to allow School carry

[CCinPA]

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepu...nbill0126.html

Proposed bill OKs guns in schools
Proposal would allow permit holders to carry

Matthew Benson
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 26, 2008 12:00 AM
Individuals with a concealed-weapons permit would be allowed to bring their guns onto school grounds under a measure introduced Friday at the Arizona Legislature.

The proposal, Senate Bill 1214, would exempt concealed-carry permit holders from a state law that bars individuals from knowingly carrying deadly weapons onto school property. If it becomes law, the measure would allow teachers and anyone else with a valid permit to carry their weapon onto the grounds of any public or private K-12 school, college or university in the state.

Supporters say the measure would provide an additional ring of security on campuses hit with a string of shootings in recent years. The most recent of which was last year's at Virginia Tech, which left 33 dead. The shootings have come in spite of heightened campus security and policies that are increasingly aimed at scrubbing any and all weapons from school grounds.
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"Apparently, it hasn't really protected us . . . " noted Senate Majority Leader Thayer Verschoor, a Gilbert Republican and co-sponsor of the proposal. The primary sponsor is Sen. Karen Johnson, R-Mesa.

Verschoor noted that concealed-carry permit holders must pass a criminal background check and take a gun-safety course, among other requirements.

But Rep. David Lujan, a Phoenix Democrat and president of the Phoenix Union High School District board, said he is "uncomfortable with having weapons on school campuses."

In the context of a school shooting, for example, he said the prospect of additional weapons in the hands of faculty or even students could "exacerbate the situation" when police arrive on scene and are trying to quickly identify the assailant.

"I think this is a discussion we need to have," Verschoor said.

[CoyoteJack]

I was under the assumption (yes I know) that the restriction on firearms on public school property was a federal one. How would the State supercede this?

[hoagy]

sounds good to me!

[KeithPA]

I was under the assumption (yes I know) that the restriction on firearms on public school property was a federal one. How would the State supercede this?

The Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 was overturned; see United States v. Lopez and was re-enacted in 1996, but included an exception for CCW holders. No one seems to know of anyone charged under this new law, considering they only changed a few words.
One of the lawyers on the site mentioned it was challenged and upheld in one court and over turned in another but they never provided any links.

So since this AZ law requires the person have a CCW it would be in line with the federal law.

[gnbrotz]

I was under the assumption (yes I know) that the restriction on firearms on public school property was a federal one. How would the State supercede this?

The federal law already provides an exemption for someone licensed by the state in which they are carrying (but NOT for reciprocal recognition).

[Zef_66]

I am confused by the title of this thread...and the first line:

Proposed bill OKs guns in schools

Has this been passed? Or just proposed...two totally different things and worlds apart.

[Koli01]

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepu...nbill0126.html

Proposed bill OKs guns in schools
Proposal would allow permit holders to carry

Matthew Benson
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 26, 2008 12:00 AM
Individuals with a concealed-weapons permit would be allowed to bring their guns onto school grounds under a measure introduced Friday at the Arizona Legislature.

The proposal, Senate Bill 1214, would exempt concealed-carry permit holders from a state law that bars individuals from knowingly carrying deadly weapons onto school property. If it becomes law, the measure would allow teachers and anyone else with a valid permit to carry their weapon onto the grounds of any public or private K-12 school, college or university in the state.

Supporters say the measure would provide an additional ring of security on campuses hit with a string of shootings in recent years. The most recent of which was last year's at Virginia Tech, which left 33 dead. The shootings have come in spite of heightened campus security and policies that are increasingly aimed at scrubbing any and all weapons from school grounds.
advertisement


"Apparently, it hasn't really protected us . . . " noted Senate Majority Leader Thayer Verschoor, a Gilbert Republican and co-sponsor of the proposal. The primary sponsor is Sen. Karen Johnson, R-Mesa.

Verschoor noted that concealed-carry permit holders must pass a criminal background check and take a gun-safety course, among other requirements.

But Rep. David Lujan, a Phoenix Democrat and president of the Phoenix Union High School District board, said he is "uncomfortable with having weapons on school campuses."

In the context of a school shooting, for example, he said the prospect of additional weapons in the hands of faculty or even students could "exacerbate the situation" when police arrive on scene and are trying to quickly identify the assailant.
"I think this is a discussion we need to have," Verschoor said.

It's much easier to identify the bad guy. When everyone is dead except for the guy with the gun!