ARIZONA CITIZENS DEFENSE LEAGUE

Check here and at our Legislative Action Center for the latest news.
You can also follow AzCDL on Twitter & Facebook!

May 21, 2013

Raffle Winners Drawn.

On Sunday, May 19, at the Tucson gun show, the 2 winners of the Mossberg MMR Tactical Rifles were drawn.

Each rifle is chambered for 5.56 NATO and is equipped with an A2-Style Muzzle Brake, Stark SE-1 Pistol Grip, 6 position Adjustable Tactical Stock, Picatinny Quad-Rail forearm and top rail, and rail mounted front and rear adjustable sights.

And the winners are:

Ticket #464, purchased by AzCDL Member Joe B.
Ticket #161, purchased by AzCDL Member Louis F.

We thank everyone who purchased a raffle ticket!  These raffles help us raise funds for our fight to restore and protect your right to bear arms in Arizona. 

On June 2, we will draw the winning ticket for the Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Modern Sporting Rifle.

Upcoming raffles include two more AR-15’s and a case (1,000 rounds) of 5.56 mm ammunition.

May 14, 2013

AzCDL’s latest Newsletter available online.

The AzCDL Newsletter for May 2013 is available for viewing and downloading at our Newsletter page.

Included in this issue is a recap of the legislative session.

May 8, 2013

Independence Day Rifle Match – Shooters Wanted!

Celebrate Independence Day in a way that would make the Founding Fathers proud!

You are invited to participate in the Eighth Annual AzCDL Independence Day (July 4th) Rifle Match. 

This year, the match is once again being hosted by the Rio Salado Sportsman’s Club. 

The match is limited to 90 shooters, but there is still time to make a reservation if you act now.

Match information, location, rules and reservations can be found at AzCDL’s Rifle Match page.

Entry fee is $60 and includes a free AzCDL Basic Annual membership.
If you are already an AzCDL member, you membership will be extended for an additional year. 
You may apply and pay at AzCDL’s online store.

Spend the day like a true patriot by exercising your rights, supporting a good cause, and having FUN!

Awards will be handed out and a Prize Raffle conducted following range clean up.

All questions should be directed to the Match Director.

May 4, 2013

Legislative Update.

For all practical purposes the legislative session has ended for firearms related bills.  If a bill didn’t make it through hearings in both chambers and, if necessary, was heard in a Conference Committee by April 19, it is effectively dead. 

Of the 17 pro-rights bills firearms bills filed this session, and despite a supposedly pro-rights majority in the legislature, only the 3 bills listed below survived.  You can find the status of all the firearms related bills that AzCDL tracked this session at our Bill Tracking page.

HB 2326, which prohibits maintaining information on a person who possesses, purchases, transfers or sells a firearm, except in the course of a law enforcement investigation, was signed by the Governor on April 29.

HB 2455, the AzCDL-requested bill that clarifies that firearms voluntarily surrendered to a state or local entity cannot be destroyed and must be sold, was also signed by the Governor on April 29.

HB 2326 and HB 2455 will become law 90 days after the Legislature adjourns.  April 23 marked the 100th day of the session which, per the Arizona Constitution, normally means the end of the session.  However, we expect this legislature to go on longer, mainly to deal with budget issues which will push out the effective dates of these new laws.
 
SCR 1015, a Resolution that the Arizona Legislature supports the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, passed out of the Legislature and was sent to the Secretary of State on April 22.  Resolutions like SCR 1015 have no statutory ramifications and are not sent to the Governor.  They are merely a public statement by the legislature. 

April 26, 2013

Legislative Update.

Friday, April 19, was the last chance for bills still progressing through the legislature.  If a bill didn’t make it through hearings in both chambers and, if necessary, was heard in a Conference Committee by April 19, it is effectively dead.  April 23 marked the 100th day of the session, which per the Arizona Constitution, normally means the end of the session.  We expect this legislature to go on longer, mainly to deal with budget issues.

Of the 17 pro-rights bills firearms bills filed this session, and despite a supposedly pro-rights majority in the legislature, only the 3 bills listed below survived.  You can find the status of all the firearms related bills that AzCDL tracked this session at our Bill Tracking page.

HB 2326, which would prohibit maintaining information on a person who possesses, purchases, transfers or sells a firearm, except in the course of a law enforcement investigation, was sent to the Governor on April 25.

HB 2455, the AzCDL-requested bill that would clarify that firearms voluntarily surrendered to a state or local entity cannot be destroyed and must be sold, was also sent to the Governor on April 25.

Once she receives a bill, the Governor has five days (excluding Sundays) to make a decision and she has three options. She can sign the bill, refrain from taking any action, or veto the bill. If she takes no action, the bill will still become law. If she vetoes a bill it would go back to the Legislature where a 2/3 vote is required by each chamber (House and Senate) to override her veto. Given the current makeup of the legislature, an override vote is extremely unlikely.

SCR 1015, a Resolution that the Arizona Legislature supports the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, passed out of the Legislature and was sent to the Secretary of State on April 22.

April 19, 2013

Legislative Update.

The following is the status of the remaining pro-rights firearm bills that are still viable this session. 

HB 2326, which would prohibit maintaining information on a person who possesses, purchases, transfers or sells a firearm, except in the course of a law enforcement investigation, passed out of the Senate on April 16 by a vote of 19 to 11 and was sent back to the House where it will soon be forwarded to the Governor for her consideration.

HB 2433, which would have simply eliminated the statutory age cap on who is a member of the state militia, was vetoed by the Governor on April 17.

HB 2455, the AzCDL-requested bill that would clarify that firearms voluntarily surrendered to a state or local entity cannot be destroyed and must be sold, also passed out of the Senate on April 16 by a vote of 19 to 11 and was sent back to the House where it will soon be forwarded to the Governor for her consideration

Once she receives a bill, the Governor has five days (excluding Sundays) to make a decision and she has three options. She can sign the bill, refrain from taking any action, or veto the bill. If she takes no action, the bill will still become law. If she vetoes a bill it would go back to the Legislature where a 2/3 vote is required by each chamber (House and Senate) to override her veto. Given the current makeup of the legislature, an override vote is extremely unlikely.

SCR 1015, a Resolution that the members of the Legislature support the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, passed out of the House on April 13 by a vote of 33 to 21 and was sent back to the Senate. 

While a Resolution like SCR 1015 is little more than a public statement by the legislature, we are disappointed that this Republican controlled legislature spent time on SCR 1015 when they could have demonstrated their commitment to the right to bear arms by passing several other pro-rights bills introduced this session, and only a bare majority in the Arizona Legislature, who swore an oath to support the U.S. and Arizona Constitutions, were willing to vote for a resolution that said they support the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, despite the never-ending refrain of “I support the Second Amendment” that you hear from every politician.

Friday, April 19, was the last chance for bills still progressing through the legislature.  If a bill hasn’t made it through hearings in both chambers and, if necessary, been heard in a Conference Committee by April 19th, it is effectively dead.  The legislature is supposed to adjourn for the year by April 26th, so anything that has not seen floor debate and votes by then survives only by the grace of the legislative leadership.

April 13, 2013

Legislative Update.

The following is the status of the remaining pro-rights firearm bills that are still viable this session.  You can find the status of all the firearms related bills that AzCDL is tracking this session at our Bill Tracking page.

HB 2326, which would prohibit maintaining information on a person who possesses, purchases, transfers or sells a firearm, except in the course of a law enforcement investigation, passed out of the Senate Committee of the Whole (COW) on March 27th.  The next step is a Senate Third Read vote, which was originally scheduled on the April 10th calendar.  We are expecting it to return on next week’s calendar.

HB 2433, which would eliminate the statutory age cap on who is a member of the state militia, was sent to the Governor on April 11th.  The Governor has 5 business days to make a decision on HB 2433 and she has 3 options.  She can (1) sign the bill, (2) refrain from taking any action, or (3) veto the bill.  If she takes no action, the bill will still become law.  If she vetoes HB 2433 it would go back to the Legislature where a 2/3 vote is required by each chamber (House and Senate) to override her veto.

HB 2455, the AzCDL-requested bill that would clarify that firearms voluntarily surrendered to a state or local entity cannot be destroyed and must be sold, has been on and off the Senate Third Read calendar this week.  HB 2455 was originally on the April 10th Third Read calendar.  We were informed that it was going to be moved forward to April 11th, as we mentioned in our alert.  Now we are told it will be on next week’s calendar.

SCR 1015, a Resolution that the members of the Legislature support the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and reject the consideration of new legislation that would infringe on this constitutionally protected right, has come back to life after being buried in the House Rules Committee since March 25th.  SCR 1015, which passed out of the Senate on February 18th, was released from the House Rules Committee on April 8th and survived a House COW hearing on April 11th.  It is scheduled for a House Third Read vote on Monday, April 15th.

The coming week is the last chance for bills still progressing through the legislature.  If a bill hasn’t made it through hearings in both chambers and, if necessary, been heard in a Conference Committee by April 19th, it is dead.  The legislature is supposed to adjourn for the year by April 26th, so anything that has not seen floor debate and votes by then survives only by the grace of legislative leadership.

April 6, 2013

Legislative Update.

The following is the status of the remaining pro-rights firearm bills that are still viable this session.  You can find the status of all the firearms related bills that AzCDL is tracking this session at our Bill Tracking page .

HB 2326, which would prohibit maintaining information on a person who possesses, purchases, transfers or sells a firearm, except in the course of a law enforcement investigation, passed out of the Senate Committee of the Whole (COW) on March 27th.  The next step is a Senate Third Read vote which has not yet been scheduled.

HB 2433, which would eliminate the statutory age cap on who is a member of the state militia, passed out of the House on March 5th.  It passed out of the Senate Third Read on Monday, April 1st with a vote of 16 to 9 with 5 Senators not voting.  HB 2433 was sent back to the House for concurrence on a minor amendment adopted by the Senate.  Pending a concurrence vote in the House, HB 2433 will be sent to the Governor.

Congratulations to those of you who helped generate over 3,000 emails that were sent to the Arizona State Senate about HB 2455.  You made a difference!

HB 2455, the AzCDL-requested bill that would clarify that firearms voluntarily surrendered to a state or local entity (e.g., Tucson) cannot be destroyed and must be sold was heard by the Senate Cow on April 1st.  The COW hearing  was very contentious and lasted about two hours.  Senators Steve Gallardo (D-29) and Linda Lopez (D-2) tried to add 18 amendments onto HB 2455 in an effort to scuttle its progress.  Their amendments consisted of “gun control” initiatives that have failed as individual bills this session.  Fortunately, all their proposed amendments failed and HB 2455 passed out of the COW unscathed on Monday, April 1st.

March 29, 2013

Legislative Update.

The following is the status of the remaining pro-rights firearm bills that have met the deadlines and are still viable.  You can find the status of all the firearms related bills that AzCDL is tracking this session at our Bill Tracking page.

HB 2326, which would prohibit maintaining information on a person who possesses, purchases, transfers or sells a firearm except in the course of a law enforcement investigation, passed out of the House on March 7th.  On March 27th, HB 2326 successfully passed out of the Senate Committee of the Whole (COW).  The next step is a Senate Third Read vote which not yet been scheduled.

HB 2433, which would eliminate the statutory age cap on who is a member of the state militia, passed out of the House on March 5th.  It also passed out of the Senate COW on March 27th and is scheduled for a Senate Third Read vote on Monday, April 1st.

HB 2455, the AzCDL-requested bill that would clarify that firearms voluntarily surrendered to a state or local entity cannot be destroyed and must be sold, passed out of the House on March 7th.  It is schedule for a Senate COW hearing on Monday, April 1st.

Assuming the above bills advance out of the Senate without amendments, they will be forwarded to the Governor.  If they are amended, they must go back to the House of Representatives for action on the Senate amendments.

SCR 1015, a Resolution that the members of the Legislature support the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and reject the consideration of new legislation that would infringe on this constitutionally protected right, passed out of the Senate and was sent to the House on February 18th.  It passed out of the House Public Safety, Military and Regulatory Affairs (PSMRA) Committee on March 6th.  From there it was sent to the House Rules Committee where it will apparently languish for the rest of this session.

SCR 1016 would add to the 2014 general election ballot the question of whether to amend the state Constitution to allow the people of Arizona to reject a federal action that the people determine violates the U.S. Constitution by passing an initiative or referendum, passing a bill, or using any other available legal remedy, and to prohibit the state from using any personnel or resources to enforce or cooperate with a federal action that the people reject.  This bill passed out of the Senate on March 4th and was sent to the House on March 5th.  It passed out of the House Federalism and Fiscal Responsibility (FFR) Committee on March 12th.  It has also joined the bills that have been buried in the House Rules Committee.

March 22, 2013

Legislative Update.

The Republican leadership, who to their credit prevented 22 really bad firearms bills from seeing the light of day this session, appears to be working to prevent pro-rights firearms bills from leaving the legislature and getting to the Governor’s desk.  This session, many good bills fell victim to legislative foot dragging that caused them to miss the February 22nd deadline for bills to be heard in committee in the originating chamber (House or Senate).   All but a few of the remaining bills were effectively axed on March 22nd, the deadline for Senate bills to be heard in a House committee and for House bills to be heard in a Senate committee. 

You can find the status of all the firearms related bills that AzCDL is tracking this session at our Bill Tracking page.

The following is the status of the remaining pro-rights firearm bills that have met the deadlines and are still moving.  They need your support and we will be calling upon you to contact your legislators as these bills approach their final hurdles.

HB 2326, which would prohibit maintaining information on a person who possesses, purchases, transfers or sells a firearm, except in the course of a law enforcement investigation, passed out of the House on March 7th and passed out of the Senate Public Safety Committee on March 20th. 

HB 2433, which would eliminate the statutory age cap on who is a member of the state militia, passed out of the House on March 5th.  It passed out of the Senate Commerce, Energy and Military (CEM) Committee on March 20th.

HB 2455, the AzCDL-requested bill that would clarify that firearms voluntarily surrendered to a state or local entity cannot be destroyed and must be sold, passed out of the House on March 7th.  Thanks to your efforts, HB 2455 passed out of the Senate Committee on Public Safety on March 20th.

The next steps for the 3 House bills listed above are a Senate Rules Committee hearing (scheduled for Monday, March 25th) followed by a debate in the Senate Committee of the Whole (COW), then a formal Senate Third Read vote.  If they are not amended in the Senate, they advance to the Governor.  If they are amended, they must go back to the House of Representatives for action on the Senate amendments.

SCR 1015, a Resolution that the members of the Legislature support the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and reject the consideration of new legislation that would infringe on this constitutionally protected right, passed out of the Senate and was sent to the House on February 18th.  It passed out of the House Public Safety, Military and Regulatory Affairs (PSMRA) Committee on March 6th.  From there it was sent to the House Rules Committee where it has languished for over 2 weeks without being scheduled for a hearing.

SCR 1016 would add to the 2014 general election ballot the question of whether to amend the state Constitution to allow the people of Arizona to reject a federal action that the people determine violates the U.S. Constitution by passing an initiative or referendum, passing a bill, or using any other available legal remedy, and to prohibit the state from using any personnel or resources to enforce or cooperate with a federal action that the people reject.  This bill passed out of the Senate on March 4th and was sent to the House on March 5th.  It passed out of the House Federalism and Fiscal Responsibility (FFR) Committee on March 12th.  It has also joined the bills that have yet to be heard in the House Rules Committee.

Normally the Rules Committee review is a benign process to ensure that bills conform to legislative guidelines.  Under the leadership of Chairman Robson, the House Rules Committee has become a burial ground for legislation that the Leadership wants to quietly stop from going anywhere.

March 21, 2013

HB 2455 on the move.

HB 2455 is the AzCDL-requested bill that would clarify that firearms voluntarily surrendered to a state or local entity cannot be destroyed and must be sold.

On March 20th, HB 2455 passed out of the Senate Committee on Public Safety by a 4 to 1 vote with two committee members not voting.  From here, it moves on to the Senate Rules committee. After that, it must survive debate in the Senate Committee of the Whole (COW), then a formal Third Read vote. If it is not amended in the Senate, it then advances to the Governor. If it is amended, it must go back to the House of Representatives first for action on the Senate amendments. So there is still a long road in front of us.

March 19, 2013

Update on HB 2455.

HB 2455 is the AzCDL-requested bill that would clarify that firearms voluntarily surrendered to a state or local entity cannot be destroyed and must be sold.

As promised by Senate President Andy Biggs, HB 2455 is on the move again.  It has been assigned to the Senate Committee on Public Safety and is scheduled to be heard in committee on Wednesday, March 20th.

At this point we do not anticipate a need to contact the committee members.

We again thank everyone who contacted Senate President Biggs.  You made a difference.

March 18, 2013

Arizona rated best state for gun owners!

Guns and Ammo magazine recently rated all the states on how they treat the right to bear arms. 
Arizona was rated #1.

States were measured on “gun rights/friendliness to gun owners” by the following criteria:

• CCW/Open Carry laws.
• Treatment of “sporting” rifles (ARs, AKs, etc.).
• Treatment of Class 3/NFA firearms.
• Castle Doctrine/Stand Your Ground.
• Miscellaneous issues like restrictions on gun or ammo purchases, magazine capacity, CCW reciprocity, etc.

All you need to do is look at AzCDL’s accomplishments to see why we are rated #1.

We are proud that AzCDL’s efforts, with your support, have garnered this high rating for Arizona from such a prestigious publication.  However, from our perspective there is a lot more that needs to be done to make Arizona truly a free state when it comes to honoring your constitutionally protected right to bear arms.  With your continued support we can achieve that goal.

March 15, 2013

Pro-rights bills stalled. 

HB 2455, the AzCDL-requested bill that would clarify that firearms voluntarily surrendered to a state or local entity cannot be destroyed and must be sold, passed out of the House on March 7th by a 36 to 23 vote.  It was then sent to the Senate where it was assigned by Senate President Andy Biggs to the Rules committee only.  This is typically a tactic used to quietly kill a bill. Since the deadline for House bills to be heard in Senate committees and Senate bills to be heard in House committees is March 22nd, time is running out for further action.

The following is the status of the remaining pro-rights bills at the legislature.  You can find the status of all firearms related bills that AzCDL is tracking at our Bill Tracking page.

HB 2234 is an AzCDL-requested bill that would standardize the definition of firearms in ARS 13-105 and remove duplicate and/or conflicting definitions in other statutes.   It has still not been heard in the House Rules Committee.  Due to pressure from the law enforcement community to amend the bill, the bill’s sponsor, Rep. David Stevens, has decided to not allow the bill to proceed, ending its chance to meet the March 22nd deadline.

HB 2326, which would prohibit maintaining information on a person who possesses, purchases, transfers or sells a firearm, except in the course of a law enforcement investigation, passed out of the House on March 7th by a 46 to 13 vote.  It is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Public Safety Committee on Wednesday, March 20th.

HB 2433, which would eliminate the statutory age cap on who is a member of the state militia, passed out of the House on March 5th by a 36 to 21 vote.  It is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Commerce, Energy and Military (CEM) Committee on Wednesday, March 20th.

HB 2554 is an AzCDL-requested bill that would require operators of a public (i.e., state and local government) property, wishing to ban weapons, to do more than slap up a cardboard sign.  They would be required to provide real security (e.g., restricted access, armed guards and metal detectors) as well as storage lockers.  If an operator of a public building does not comply with the security requirements, the prohibition of firearms would not be enforceable.  At the March 7th Rules Committee meeting, the bill was held from consideration by the committee chair, Representative Bob Robson.

SB 1112 would prohibit enforcement, by state and federal officials, of federal laws relating to a “personal firearm, a firearm accessory or ammunition, that is owned or manufactured commercially or privately in this state and that remains exclusively within the borders of” Arizona.  This bill also provides that the Arizona Attorney General may defend a citizen of Arizona who is prosecuted for violation of related federal firearms laws.  This bill has finally passed the Senate Rules Committee, but was retained on the floor.  Due to the aforementioned deadline issues, it will need immediate action on the Senate floor on Monday, March 18th, followed by immediate assignment and a hearing in the House, in order for it to proceed before the Friday, March 22nd deadline.
 
SB 1235, which would allow the governing boards of educational institutions to authorize teachers or administrators to possess a "concealed" weapon under convoluted conditions (school has fewer than 600 students, more than 30 minutes and 20 miles from a police station, no school resource officer, etc.), was presumed dead because it missed the February 22nd deadline to be heard in committee.  However, it passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee on February 26th and on March 13th was approved by the Senate Committee of the Whole (COW).   Before March 22nd, SB 1325 must pass a Senate Third Read vote, be sent to the House and then heard in the House committee to which it will be assigned.

SCR 1015, a Resolution that the members of the Legislature support the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and reject the consideration of new legislation that would infringe on this constitutionally protected right, passed out of the Senate by an 18 to 12 vote and was sent to the House on February 18th.  It passed out of the House Public Safety, Military and Regulatory Affairs (PSMRA) Committee on Wednesday, March 6th by a 5 to 2 vote.  It has now joined the long list of bills that have yet to be heard in the House Rules Committee.

SCR 1016 would add to the 2014 general election ballot the question of whether to amend the state Constitution to allow the people of Arizona to reject a federal action that the people determine violates the U.S. Constitution by passing an initiative or referendum, passing a bill, or using any other available legal remedy, and to prohibit the state from using any personnel or resources to enforce or cooperate with a federal action that the people reject.  This bill passed out of the Senate on March 4th by a 16 to 12 vote and was sent to the House on March 5th.  It passed out of the House Federalism and Fiscal Responsibility (FFR) Committee on Tuesday, March 12th by a 5 to 3 vote.  It has also joined the long list of bills that are stuck in the House Rules Committee.

Once again, the deadline for House bills to be heard in Senate committees and Senate bills to be heard in House committees is March 22nd.  Any bills that have not been heard by that date are dead for the session, unless the Senate President or the Speaker of the House makes a special exception to the rules, and those are extremely rare.

March 8, 2013

Legislative Update. 

The following is the status of the remaining pro-rights bills that are still viable and moving their way through the legislative process.  You can find the status of all firearms related bills that AzCDL is tracking at our Bill Tracking page.

HB 2234 is an AzCDL-requested bill that would standardize the definition of firearms in ARS 13-105 and remove duplicate and/or conflicting definitions in other statutes.   It is still stalled in the House Rules Committee.  AzCDL is attempting to work with the bill’s sponsor to get this bill moving.

HB 2326, which would prohibit maintaining information on a person who possesses, purchases, transfers or sells a firearm, except in the course of a law enforcement investigation, passed out of the House on March 7th by a 46 to 13 vote.  It is headed for the Senate.

HB 2433, which would eliminate the statutory age cap on who is a member of the state militia, passed out of the House on March 5th by a 36 to 21 vote and was sent to the Senate where it has been assigned to the Commerce, Energy and Military (CEM) Committee.

HB 2455, the AzCDL-requested bill that would clarify that firearms voluntarily surrendered to a state or local entity cannot be destroyed and must be sold, passed out of the House on March 7th by a 36 to 23 vote.  From here it heads to the Senate where the process starts anew.  We thank everyone who took the time to contact their Representatives.  You made a difference.

HB 2554 is an AzCDL-requested bill that would require operators of a public (i.e., state and local government) property, wishing to ban weapons, to do more than slap up a cardboard sign.  They would be required to provide real security (e.g., restricted access, armed guards and metal detectors) as well as storage lockers.  If an operator of a public building does not comply with the security requirements, the prohibition of firearms would not be enforceable.  At the March 7th Rules Committee meeting, the bill was held from consideration by the committee chair, Representative Bob Robson.

SB 1112 would prohibit enforcement, by state and federal officials, of federal laws relating to a “personal firearm, a firearm accessory or ammunition, that is owned or manufactured commercially or privately in this state and that remains exclusively within the borders of” Arizona.  This bill also provides that the Arizona Attorney General may defend a citizen of Arizona who is prosecuted for violation of related federal firearms laws.  This bill still needs a Senate Rules Committee hearing before it can progress.

SCR 1015, a Resolution that the members of the Legislature support the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and reject the consideration of new legislation that would infringe on this constitutionally protected right, passed out of the Senate by an 18 to 12 vote (can you believe anyone would vote against this?) and was sent to the House on February 18th.  It passed out of House Public Safety, Military and Regulatory Affairs (PSMRA) Committee on Wednesday, March 6th by a 5 to 2 vote.  From here is goes to the House Rules Committee.

SCR 1016 would add to the 2014 general election ballot the question of whether to amend the state Constitution to allow the people of Arizona to reject a federal action that the people determine violates the U.S. Constitution by passing an initiative or referendum, passing a bill, or using any other available legal remedy, and to prohibit the state from using any personnel or resources to enforce or cooperate with a federal action that the people reject.  This bill passed out of the Senate on March 4th by a 16 to 12 vote and was sent to the House on March 5th where it has been assigned to the Federalism and Fiscal Responsibility (FFR) Committee.

The deadline for House bills to be heard in Senate committees and Senate bills to be heard in House committees is March 22nd.

March 6, 2013

8,000 AzCDL Members!

Congratulations to all our dedicated and hard working volunteers! 
During the last gun show in February, AzCDL volunteers recruited our 8,000th member.
It was less than 4 months ago in November that AzCDL’s 7,000th member joined.

If you would like to be part of our winning team of volunteers, and help AzCDL become an even greater force for restoring and protecting the right to keep and bear arms in Arizona, please visit our Volunteer Page.
 
AzCDL was formed in 2005 by a handful of activists working to end the status quo.  Six years later, after many legislative victories and with the help of over 3,000 members, history was made with the passage of Constitutional Carry, restoring the right of the law-abiding to carry openly or discreetly without first begging for government permission.

We have more than doubled our membership since Constitutional Carry was passed.  With 8,000 members (and climbing!), we have a great opportunity to get good bills passed this session. 
 
However, to be successful, we need everyone’s involvement.  When you receive our alerts asking you to contact key legislators, follow the links to our Legislative Action Center and send the prepared emails, or create one of your own.  It only takes a few mouse clicks to make a difference.  Doing nothing is the equivalent of surrendering.  AzCDL members are automatically subscribed to alerts originating from our Legislative Action Center.  If you are not receiving them subscribe here.

March 4, 2013

Legislative update.

The following is the status of pro-rights bills that are still viable and moving their way through the legislative process.  After bills pass out of their assigned committees, they are reviewed by the Rules Committee.  From there, they go to the full House or Senate for hearings and votes before being sent over to the other chamber where the process starts all over again.  The deadline for House bills to be heard in Senate committees and Senate bills to be heard in House committees is March 22nd.

HB 2234 is an AzCDL-requested bill that would standardize the definition of firearms in ARS 13-105 and remove duplicate and/or conflicting definitions in other statutes.   It needs to be heard in the House Rules Committee.  AzCDL is following up with the bill’s sponsor and the Rules Committee Chairman to determine what the delay is.

HB 2326, which would prohibit maintaining information on a person who possesses, purchases, transfers or sells a firearm except in the course of a law enforcement investigation, is scheduled for a Rules Committee hearing on Monday, March 4th.

HB 2433, which would eliminate the statutory age cap (currently 45 years old) on who is a member of the state militia (i.e., all able-bodied citizens capable of bearing arms), passed out of the Rules Committee on February 25th.  It is scheduled for a House Committee of the Whole (COW) hearing on Tuesday, March 5th.
 
HB 2455 is an AzCDL requested bill that would clarify that firearms voluntarily surrendered to a state or local entity cannot be destroyed and must be sold.  It is scheduled for a Rules Committee hearing on Monday, March 4th.

HB 2554 is an AzCDL-requested bill that would require operators of a public (i.e., state and local government) property, wishing to ban weapons, to do more than slap up a cardboard sign.  They would be required to provide real security (e.g., restricted access, armed guards and metal detectors) as well as storage lockers.  If an operator of a public building does not comply with the security requirements, the prohibition of firearms would not be enforceable.  HB 2554 is scheduled for a Rules Committee hearing on Monday, March 4th.

SB 1112 would prohibit enforcement, by state and federal officials, of federal laws relating to a “personal firearm, a firearm accessory or ammunition, that is owned or manufactured commercially or privately in this state and that remains exclusively within the borders of” Arizona.  This bill also provides that the Arizona Attorney General may defend a citizen of Arizona who is prosecuted by the feds for violation of related federal firearms laws.  This bill still needs a Senate Rules Committee hearing before it can progress.

SCR 1015, a Resolution that the members of the Legislature support the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and reject the consideration of new legislation that would infringe on this constitutionally protected right, passed out of the Senate by an 18 to 12 vote (can you believe anyone would vote against this?) and was sent to the House on February 18th.  It has been scheduled for a hearing by the House Public Safety, Military and Regulatory Affairs (PSMRA) Committee on Wednesday, March 6th.

SCR 1016 would add to the 2014 general election ballot the question of whether to amend the state Constitution to allow the people of Arizona to reject a federal action that the people determine violates the U.S. Constitution by passing an initiative or referendum, passing a bill, or using any other available legal remedy, and to prohibit the state from using any personnel or resources to enforce or cooperate with a federal action that the people reject.  This bill passed out of the Senate COW on February 28th and is scheduled for a Senate Third Read vote for Monday, March 4th.

You can find the status of firearms related bills that AzCDL is tracking at our Bill Tracking page.

March 1, 2013

Nevada rescinds recognition of Arizona CCW permits.

On February 28th, the Nevada Sheriff’s and Chief’s Association, which controls the Nevada CCW permit process, rescinded recognition of Arizona permits.  You can read their letter here.

Unlike Arizona, which recognizes all permits from all states, and also recognizes that there is a constitutionally guaranteed Right to Bear Arms openly or discretely, Nevada only recognizes permits from a handful of states that has the same or stricter requirements on who is allowed to discretely carry a firearm.

The solution to Nevada reciprocity for Arizona permits is for Nevada to change their laws.

February 22, 2013

Legislative update.

February 22nd was the deadline for bills to be heard in their assigned committees in the chamber (House or Senate) where they originated.  Most of the more than 1,300 bills filed this session failed to meet that deadline and are effectively dead.  The good news is that all of the anti-rights firearms bills are casualties of this deadline.  The not so good news is that a number of pro-rights firearms bills have also been stopped.  The good bills that are still moving are:

HB 2234 - An AzCDL-requested bill that would standardize the definition of firearms in ARS 13-105 and remove duplicate and/or conflicting definitions in other statutes.

HB 2326 - Would prohibit maintaining information on a person who possesses, purchases, transfers or sells a firearm except in the course of a law enforcement investigation.

HB 2433 - Would eliminate the statutory age cap (currently 45 years old) on who is a member of the state militia (i.e., all able-bodied citizens capable of bearing arms).

HB 2455 - An AzCDL requested bill that would clarify that firearms voluntarily surrendered to a state or local entity cannot be destroyed and must be sold.

HB 2554 - An AzCDL-requested bill that would require operators of a public (i.e., state and local government) property, wishing to ban weapons, to do more than slap up a cardboard sign.  They would be required to provide real security (e.g., restricted access, armed guards and metal detectors) as well as storage lockers.  If an operator of a public building does not comply with the security requirements, the prohibition of firearms would not be enforceable.

SB 1112 - Would prohibit enforcement, by state and federal officials, of federal laws relating to a “personal firearm, a firearm accessory or ammunition, that is owned or manufactured commercially or privately in this state and that remains exclusively within the borders of” Arizona.  This bill also provides that the Arizona Attorney General may defend a citizen of Arizona who is prosecuted by the feds for violation of related federal firearms laws.

SCR 1015 – A Resolution that the members of the Legislature support the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and reject the consideration of new legislation that would infringe on this constitutionally protected right.

SCR 1016 - Would add to the 2014 general election ballot the question of whether to amend the state Constitution to allow the people of Arizona to reject a federal action that the people determine violates the U.S. Constitution by passing an initiative or referendum, passing a bill, or using any other available legal remedy, and to prohibit the state from using any personnel or resources to enforce or cooperate with a federal action that the people reject.

You can find the status of these bills, along with all the other firearms related bills that AzCDL is tracking, at our Bill Tracking page.

The next stop for bills that have passed out of their assigned committees is the Rules Committee.  From there, they go to the full House or Senate for hearings and votes before being sent over to the other chamber where the process starts all over again.  The deadline for House bills to be heard in Senate committees and Senate bills to be heard in House committees is March 22nd.

February 17, 2013

Legislative update - bills moving!

On February 13th, HB 2455 passed out of the House Public Safety, Military and Regulatory Affairs (PSMRA) Committee by a 5 to 3 vote.  Since then, three more pro-rights bills have been added to the PSMRA agenda for Wednesday, February 20th; HB 2234, 2433 and 2554.

HB 2234 is an AzCDL-requested bill that would standardize the definition of firearms in ARS 13-105 and remove duplicate and/or conflicting definitions in other statutes.

HB 2433 would eliminate the statutory age cap (currently 45 years old) on who is a member of the state militia (i.e., all able-bodied citizens capable of bearing arms).

HB 2554 is an AzCDL-requested bill that would require operators of public property, wishing to ban weapons, to restrict access to the property and provide armed guards and metal detectors as well as storage lockers.  If an operator of a public building does not comply with the security requirements, the prohibition of firearms would not be enforceable.

You can find a summary of these bills, along with all the other firearms related bills that AzCDL is tracking, at our Bill Tracking page.

The last day for legislation to be introduced was February 11th.  The last day for bills to be heard in their assigned committees in the chamber (House or Senate) where they originated is this coming Friday, February 22nd.  That deadline will be the death knell for the majority of the over 1,300 bills filed this session.  Unless they get a hearing, that will include the anti-rights bills we are monitoring.
 
The next stop for bills that have passed out of their assigned committees is the Rules Committee.  From there, they go to the full House or Senate for hearings and votes before being sent over to the other chamber.

February 12, 2013

PSMRA Committee to hear HB 2455.

Yesterday, HB 2455 was added to House Public Safety, Military and Regulatory Affairs (PSMRA) committee’s agenda for tomorrow, February 13th.

HB 2455 is an AzCDL requested bill that would clarify that firearms voluntarily surrendered to a state or local entity cannot be destroyed and must be sold.  Recently, the city of Tucson destroyed several hundred firearms after they staged a gun “buy back” program, claiming that current state law, forbidding the destruction of firearms, did not apply to surrendered firearms.  HB 2455 broadens the statutory definitions to included surrendered firearms.

January 25, 2013

Legislative Update.

Over 800 pieces of proposed legislation have been filed so far.  The final deadline for all bills to be filed is February 11th.  You can find a list of the bills AzCDL is monitoring at our Bill Tracking page. 

New bills are added as we become aware of them.  The following is a recap of current legislation related to your right to bear arms in Arizona.

The good bills:

HB 2234 is an AzCDL-requested bill that would standardize the definition of firearms in ARS 13-105 and remove duplicate and/or conflicting definitions in other statutes.

HB 2288 is an AzCDL-requested bill that would move the firearms storage requirements for state and local government (i.e., "public") buildings from the weapons misconduct statute (ARS 13-3102) to the preemption statutes (ARS 13-3108).  It would also require operators of public property, wishing to ban weapons, to restrict access to the property and provide armed guards and metal detectors as well as storage lockers.  The bill also allows for legal action against the operator when they don't obey the law.  In a nutshell, HB 2288 says that slapping a cardboard “No Firearms” sign on the door doesn’t cut it.  Either provide real security for those entering or take down the sign.

HB 2291 & SB 1112 are identical AzCDL-requested bills that would prohibit enforcement, by state and federal officials, of federal firearms laws relating to a "personal firearm, a firearm accessory or ammunition, that is owned or manufactured commercially or privately in this state and that remains exclusively with the borders of" Arizona. These bills also provide that the Arizona Attorney General may defend a citizen of Arizona who is prosecuted by the feds for violation of related federal firearms laws.

HB 2326 would prohibit maintaining information on a person who possesses, purchases, transfers or sells a firearm except in the course of a law enforcement investigation.  HB 2326 passed out of the House Judiciary Committee on January 24th by a 6 to 2 vote.

HB 2431 would clarify that members of the Arizona Guard (composed of the state militia - see HB 2433) may possess "particularly suited firearms or equipment" which include firearms with standard/full capacity magazines and semi-automatic pistols, rifles and shotguns.  In a nutshell, since the Arizona Guard is composed of the state militia, restrictions cannot be made on things like magazine capacity and firearms features.

HB 2432 would create a Citizens Marksmanship fund to provide firearms for the training of citizens who are eligible for service in the Arizona Guard.

HB 2433 would eliminate the age cap (currently 45 years old) on who is a member of the state militia (i.e., all able-bodied citizens capable of bearing arms).  See HB 2431.

HB 2455 is an AzCDL requested bill that would clarify that even firearms that are voluntarily surrendered to a state or local entity (i.e., via a "buy back" program) cannot be destroyed and must be sold.

HB 2468 would allow for reduced hunting license fee for members of the military and veterans.

Bad bills:

HB 2376 would allow law enforcement officers, when contacting anyone possessing a firearm, to make a non-professional assessment of their mental state, and if, in their sole discretion, they determine that person may be a danger to themselves or others, seize their firearms, and request they be carted off for a court-ordered mental evaluation.

HB 2378 would eliminate state preemption over the disposition of surrendered and confiscated firearms, allowing for local politicians to destroy, rather than sell, firearms, as required by current law.

HB 2379 would automatically make anyone subject to a restraining order a “prohibited” firearms possessor, regardless of the reason for the order.

HB 2380 would abolish Constitutional Carry.
 
HB 2381 would arbitrarily classify virtually all semi-automatic pistols and rifles as “assault weapons”, and require that all transfers of these firearms be tightly controlled and only allowable via a licensed firearms dealer.  Violators face a $10,000 fine and arrest.
 
SB 1049 would expand the definition of "school" in ARS 13-3102 (Weapons Misconduct) to include post-secondary educational institutions (i.e., colleges and universities), and would make possessing a firearm on these campuses a Class 6 Felony.  Under current law it is a misdemeanor to possess a firearm on K-12 school grounds. 

SB 1050 would make it illegal to possess a magazine or any other "feeding device" capable of holding more than 10 rounds. The penalty for the mere possession of your current standard capacity (i.e., greater than 10 rounds) magazines would be a Class 4 Felony.

January 17, 2013

Bills filed to make you a criminal.

On January 16th, Senator Ableser (D-26) filed two bills attacking law-abiding gun owners.

SB 1049 would expand the definition of "school" in ARS 13-3102 (Weapons Misconduct) to include post-secondary educational institutions (i.e., colleges and universities).   The proposed laws would make possessing a firearm on post-secondary educational institutions a Class 6 Felony. Under current law it is a misdemeanor to possess a firearm on K-12 school grounds and firearms policy on colleges and universities is controlled by the governing boards of the institution.  The passage of SB 1049 would empower criminals while disarming their victims.

SB 1050 would outlaw the possession of any magazine or other “feeding device” that holds more than 10 rounds and make their possession a Class 4 Felony.  With the millions of semi-automatic firearms with standard capacity (i.e., no limits) magazines possessed by law-abiding Arizona gun owners, this would do nothing more than a create a new class of criminal whose only crime is the possession of a hunk of plastic and metal that politicians have deemed evil.  We also question the rationale of anyone who believes that the construction of an inanimate object affects the behavior of the person possessing it.

January 1, 2013

Turning Point.

The recent murders of 20 children and 6 adults at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, are being heavily exploited by the Obama administration and their allies in Congress to deprive us of our right to bear arms.  Immediately following the Newtown tragedy, President Obama announced that gun control will be a top priority of his second term (in stark contrast to his campaign rhetoric).  Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA), author of the “Assault Weapons” ban of 1994, has announced she will file an even more draconian, and permanent, gun control bill that she has been working on for the last year (i.e., just waiting for the opportunity to capitalize on a public tragedy). This bill will encompass nearly all semi-automatic firearms in existence, including handguns, forbid their manufacture, require registration of any existing firearms, and prevent their transfer, even among family members. You can find Sen. Feinstein’s summary of her legislation here.

This is a critical juncture for those who realize that to fundamentally transform this country as they promised, it is necessary to have unarmed subjects, not armed citizens, to implement their vision.   If the Progressives in Congress, and their sycophants in the mainstream media, can swing public opinion and get their opponents in Congress to roll over, this will be a major victory for them, and the beginning of the end for the Second Amendment.  While AzCDL’s focus has always been, first and foremost, on Arizona legislation, we have now joined with other state organizations to actively support the defeat of any federal legislation that threatens our right to bear arms.

Meanwhile, the Administration’s frenzy to disarm us at the federal level will definitely echo in Arizona.  We are expecting Progressives in the legislature to file bills in the 2013 session that will both mirror federal gun bans and attempt to roll-back the freedoms we have all fought hard for during the last 7 years.  What they accomplish depends on how willing you are to stop them. 

AzCDL’s success at the Arizona Legislature in continuing to restore our right to bear arms, while defeating attempts to make Arizona gun laws look like those in Illinois, New York or California, is dependent on your involvement.  Not actively participating is the same as supporting those who want to take away your rights.

Your membership donations allow us to purchase powerful tools that enable YOU to make a difference.  Chief among these is our Legislative Action Center.  As bills progress we will send out Legislative Alerts via email.  Many of those Alerts will have a link to our Legislative Action Center where a letter has been prepared and is waiting for you to email to committee members or your legislators.  You can write your own letter or send what we prepare.  Sending your email takes less than a minute and only a few mouse clicks.

The letters you send from AzCDL’s Legislative Action Center can mean the difference between a bill passing or failing.  Conversely, doing nothing, or relying on others to do the work for you, is acceptance of defeat. 

The 2013 Arizona Legislative session officially convenes on Monday, January 14th.  Our legislative alerts will primarily initiate from our Legislative Action Center.  We invite you visit our Legislative Action Center to subscribe.

December 19, 2012

Statement Regarding the Tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut

Above all else, our deepest sympathies are with the families and friends of the victims of this terrible tragedy.  No one should ever have to endure the horror of having their precious loved ones ripped from their lives in such a horrific and needless act, and our hearts ache along with theirs.  We all have families, and most of us can only imagine what these people are going through.

Unfortunately, it took mere minutes for some to attempt to turn this terrible event to their political advantage.  In utter disregard for the actuality of what has happened, immediate cries were issued for the banning of certain types of firearms, or of certain types of ammunition feeding devices, or of certain kinds of people from the possession of firearms, etc.  We’ve even seen a few calls for the complete repeal of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

In all of this cacophony, we seem to have lost track of a few salient points.  First and foremost, all of the “gun control” measures being proposed now are the same measures that have been proposed before, many times.  Many have been tried before, and have been shown to have no measurable effect on criminal activity.  Several of them are actually ALREADY IN PLACE IN CONNECTICUT, where this tragedy took place.  So the obvious question becomes, what are we supposed to gain by doing any of these things?  Most credible research has shown that these “gun control” proposals accomplish nothing of substance, and are instead designed merely to seem as if they’re “doing something”.  We have only to look around us and see that these issues don’t go away no matter how many laws we pass.  Something more must be done.

Another key point, one that’s obvious to many of us who own guns for sport, recreation, and self-defense, has been lost in the rush to blame the object instead of the deranged individual who wielded it.  That is the fallacy of the “gun free zone”.  Schools throughout the nation are designated as “gun free”.  Apparently this twisted individual did not get the memo.  The obvious problem is that anyone in the school who might have done anything about the shooter did get the memo, and was tragically helpless to stop him.  Reports from Connecticut indicate that several brave school employees did indeed make their best effort to stop this madman, but they died in the attempt.  This should not surprise any thinking individual.  Contrary to media reports, the main issue here is not that a deranged individual gained access to a firearm, as there is very little anyone could do to prevent that. It’s that anyone who could have stopped his rampage could not gain access to a firearm.

Many people, especially in the media, keep repeating that we must do anything we can to keep our children safe.  We wholeheartedly agree.  However, it’s been said that one definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.  Let’s stop the insanity! We will not protect our children by throwing reams of paper laws at evil people.  It’s long past time to, at the very least, allow our school faculty and staff the option to be trained and armed.  Only then will they be capable of dealing with a situation like this.  When the Israelis found themselves in a similar circumstance back in the 1970’s, their response was to train and arm teachers, and even parent volunteers, to protect their children.  How can we do any less?

We need to stop pretending that doing “something” will solve the problem, and start focusing on doing the right thing.  We don’t hang little plastic signs on policemen that say “No crimes allowed”.  We give them badges and guns, and teach them how to deal with bad guys.  Why should we do any less for the people that we entrust our precious children to nearly every day?

It’s time to change the way we think about this, as a state, as a nation, as a people.  It’s just a shame that it takes a tragedy like this to get people thinking about it.

Looking for more news?

This page only contains recent and/or relevant news.
 Our members receive the latest news before it’s posted here.
The best way to stay informed and get all the news is to
Join AzCDL!