Arizona: “No Permit Needed” Concealed-Carry Bill Passes Both House and Senate – Awaiting Signature by Gov. Brewer

Excellent news!

H/T – Cavmom

Gov. Brewer to get concealed-gun bill

by Alia Beard Rau – Apr. 9, 2010 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

Within the next week, Arizona could become the first state with a large urban population to allow U.S. citizens 21 and older to carry a concealed firearm without a permit. Only Alaska and Vermont have similar allowances.

Senate Bill 1108, crafted by Sen. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, passed in the House of Representatives on Thursday with a vote of 36-19 and no comments from either side.

“This is a big day,” National Rifle Association lobbyist Matt Dogali said. “This is a major restoration of a principal right.”

The bill will go to the governor Monday, and Gov. Jan Brewer will have until the following Saturday to sign it, veto it, or do nothing and allow it to become law. The law would go into effect 90 days after the legislative session ends, which could happen within the next few weeks.

Brewer spokesman Paul Senseman said she has not made a final decision on whether she will sign the bill. “But she has a long track record of strong, vigorous support of the Second Amendment,” he said.

As of April 4, there were 154,279 active concealed-carry weapon permits in Arizona. The permits generated $1.8 million in revenue last fiscal year, according to Harold Sanders, Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesman. The money is used to help cover costs for enforcing laws related to the Highway Patrol, operating the concealed-carry weapon-licensing program and impounding vehicles. Sanders said it’s impossible to know how the legislation would affect that budget or state employees.

Dogali said many gun owners will still likely get a permit. They would still be needed in order to carry a weapon into a restaurant or bar that serves alcohol as well as for an Arizonan to carry his or her weapon concealed in most states.

The training requirements to get the permit would change under the proposed law. John Thomas, lobbyist for the Arizona Chiefs of Police, said the new provisions don’t require the training class to be a set number of hours or include any hands-on use of the weapon.

A background check would still be required to get a permit, as well as to buy a gun in most cases. Brewer this week signed another law that exempts guns made and kept in Arizona from federal regulation, including background checks.

The chiefs association was originally opposed to the concealed-weapons bill. It worked to get several provisions added, and the group now is neutral. Those provisions include requiring gun owners to accurately answer an officer when asked if they are carrying a weapon and allowing police to temporarily confiscate the weapon while they are in contact with someone.

If the bill becomes law, Thomas said both law enforcement and residents should expect changes.

“You’re going to have officers approaching people and asking them if they are carrying a weapon,” he said. “And if a policeman asks you if you are carrying a weapon and you do not answer accurately, it’s a Class 1 misdemeanor punishable with six months in jail.”

He said Arizonans also should start assuming that starting sometime late this summer, a lot more people with no training will likely be carrying concealed guns.

And, therein amongst the predictable fear mongering slam at the end of the article lies the hidden blessing:  Criminals will also start assuming that a lot more people will likely be carrying concealed guns and rightly conclude that it is time for them to move somewhere else.   Like Chicago, perhaps.

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