AZ going "no permit required"

[mrjam2jab]

Looks like it may pass...

Preliminary Approval

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Ariz. Senate preliminarily
approves guns bill

Mar. 23, 2010 05:37 PM
Associated Press

The Arizona Senate on Tuesday gave
preliminary approval to legislation that
would make Arizona the third state allowing
people to carry concealed weapons without a
permit.

The Senate approved the measure in a voice
vote, setting the stage for a formal vote.
Passage would send it to the House.

The measure would make it legal for any U.S.
citizen 21 or older to carry a concealed
weapon in Arizona without the permit now
required. Currently, carrying a hidden
firearm without a permit is a misdemeanor
punishable by up to six months in jail and a
fine of up to $2,500.

If the legislation is enacted, Arizona would
join Alaska and Vermont in not requiring
permits to carry concealed weapons.

The Wyoming House in February approved a
bill to allow residents to carry concealed
weapons without a permit, but the measure
died in the Senate after gun-rights groups
angered lawmakers with a massive e-mail
campaign that clogged their inboxes.

By eliminating the permit requirement,
Arizonans no longer would have to undergo
background checks and take training classes
to carry hidden guns. They would still be
subject to background checks required
under federal law when buying a gun from a
store.

People carrying a concealed weapon would

be required to tell a police officer if asked,
and the officer could temporarily take the w
eapon while communicating with the gun
carrier.

Mesa Republican Sen. Russell Pearce
sponsored the legislation. Pearce said
lawmakers removed a provision that would
have allowed concealed weapons in some
public buildings and events, following a
request by Gov. Jan Brewer's office. And they
added a provision making it illegal to carry a
hidden firearm while committing a felony.

The changes prompted the Arizona
Association of Chiefs of Police to drop its
opposition to the bill. The organization's
president, Sahuarita Police Chief John Harris,
said the chiefs saw the bill was going to pass
anyway so they wanted to ensure it was as
favorable as possible.

Supporters have said criminals don't honor
current laws, so the permitting requirements
only burden law-abiding citizens who just
want to protect themselves.

John Wentling, vice president of gun-rights
lobbying group Arizona Citizens Defense
League, said nearly all adults are allowed to
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carry a gun openly in Arizona and shouldn't
face extra restrictions just to hide the gun.

"To have them jump through all these hoops
just to untuck their shirt just seems
unconscionable," Wentling said.

Opponents have said eliminating the permit
requirement would pose risks to police
officers and the public, partly through
accidental gun discharges by people not
adequately trained in firearms safety.

Under the legislation, permits still could be
obtained on an optional basis so Arizonans
could carry concealed weapons in states
with reciprocity agreements. Permits also
would be required to carry weapons in bars
and restaurants that serve alcohol.

Senators beat back an attempt to add an
amendment requiring sellers at gun shows
to verify buyers' citizenship.

Arizona in 2009 loosened its gun laws to lift
a ban on guns in establishments that serve
alcohol, although gun-bearers still cannot
drink alcohol and establishments can ban
firearms.

Brewer, a Republican who took office in
January 2009, signed that measure into law.
Her predecessor, Democrat Janet Napolitano,
vetoed several measures pushed by gun-
rights supporters.

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[falcn]

Nice. AZ shot up on my list of states where I would possibly move/live.

[Vortex]

Looks like it may pass...

Preliminary Approval

The Wyoming House in February approved a
bill to allow residents to carry concealed
weapons without a permit, but the measure
died in the Senate after gun-rights groups
angered lawmakers with a massive e-mail
campaign that clogged their inboxes.

Is this correct (bolded quote above) and does anyone have a link to the back story with Wyoming gun-rights groups?

[Metz]

The measure would make it legal for any U.S. citizen 21 or older to carry a concealed weapon in Arizona ...

Looks like law abiding resident aliens (like myself) won't have this right. Nice.

[mrjam2jab]

Looks like law abiding resident aliens (like myself) won't have this right. Nice.

The way i read it...they are not eliminating the permit...just not making it mandatory. I would think if you're eligible to obtain a permit then your eligible to not need it also...?

The Bill

[H.E. Pennypacker]

After reading that MSNBC article about gun ownership and looking at the interactive map they had, it's amazing how far the states have come in the past 30 years with regards to gun rights. From all the no issue/may issue states, to the majority being shall issue. Hopefully more go the way of Vermont and - hopefully - Arizona.

[ehidle]

I love the "any US Citizen" language, but I also hate it.

The right to self defense and to bear arms is an innate human right, and all people should enjoy that right. The rights enumerated in the Constitution are for all humans, not just US citizens. It is really "the bar" against which a free society is measured.

We have the right to free speech, to bear arms, to be free from unreasonable searches and punishments, to be free from unjustified confiscation of property, and so on, because we exist as humans; not because the Constitution creates those rights for US Citizens only.

[Conglomeration Al]

Is this correct (bolded quote above) and does anyone have a link to the back story with Wyoming gun-rights groups?

I did find this:

http://www.trib.com/news/opinion/edi...14781de37.html

Seems the WY senate had problems with the language of the bill and killing it had nothing to do with "Senate spam", as it were.

[Metz]

The way i read it...they are not eliminating the permit...just not making it mandatory.

In Arizona (and quite few other states like Montana) you HAVE to be a US citizen to obtain consealed carry license.

God bless Pennsylvania.

[shooter357]

I did find this:

http://www.trib.com/news/opinion/edi...14781de37.html

Seems the WY senate had problems with the language of the bill and killing it had nothing to do with "Senate spam", as it were.

I seem to remeber reading that the bill was passed and went to Gov. Freudenthal for signing. I will look for that article.

ETA: Maybe I should have looked a little closer, http://www.nraila.org/legislation/read.aspx?id=5494