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Check here for the latest AzCDL and Legislative news.
Visit our Legislative Action Center for bills needing action.
You can also follow AzCDL on Twitter & Facebook!
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March 5, 2010
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Constitutional Carry hearing rescheduled.
Constitutional Carry was on the Senate Appropriations Committee agenda for a rare Friday, March 5th, meeting. Normally this committee does not convene on Friday. Senators who had to travel long distances from their home districts were unable to attend and a quorum would not have been attained. As a result, the Senate Appropriations Committee has been rescheduled for Monday, March 8th after the “floor” session has adjourned, around 2 PM. The good news is this allows you to continue to urge committee members to support Constitutional Carry.
The sponsor of SB 1108, Appropriations Committee Chairman Senator Russell Pearce, has proposed a "strike everything" amendment that replaces SB 1108, in its entirety, with the intended language from SB 1102 (Constitutional Carry). SB 1102, which was headed for a Senate floor vote, was derailed after the attachment of the hostile Cheuvront amendment during the Senate Committee of the Whole (COW). It is critical you continue to urge the Senate Appropriations Committee members to support the amended SB 1108. Join those who have already contacted the committee! A letter has been prepared and is waiting for you at our Action Center.
In other news, SB 1168, the Senate version of the firearms preemption bill, passed out of the Senate COW on Thursday, March 4, 2010. As expected an attempt was made to add a hostile amendment using the same shenanigans that scuttled SB 1102. This time the votes weren’t there. The hundreds of emails that YOU sent last week had an effect!
With some legislators vacating their seats to run for other elected positions, there have been some committee reassignments and temporary appointments. We mentioned a few days ago that Representative Frank Antenori, who sponsored the House version of Constitutional Carry (HB 2347), has been appointed to replace Senator Jonathan Paton, who vacated his seat to run for the U.S. House of Representatives.
We recently learned that Senator David Braswell has replaced Senator Steve Pierce in the Senate Appropriations Committee that is hearing Constitutional Carry on Monday. Senator Chuck Gray has been appointed Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Senator Ed Bunch has been appointed to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
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March 3, 2010
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Firearms preemption debate March 4, 2010.
We are expecting SB 1168 to be scheduled on the Senate Committee of the Whole (COW) agenda for Thursday, March 4, 2010. SB 1168 strengthens state firearms preemption laws, adds firearms storage and accessories to the list of things political subdivisions cannot regulate, and removes the prohibition on carrying a firearm in public parks without a CCW permit.
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March 2, 2010
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Constitutional Carry rescued in Senate.
On Friday, March 5th at 10 AM, the Senate Appropriations Committee will debate and vote on SB 1108. The sponsor of SB 1108, Committee Chairman Senator Russell Pearce, has proposed a "strike everything" amendment that replaces SB 1108, in its entirety, with the intended language from SB 1102 (Constitutional Carry).
SB 1102, which was headed for a Senate floor vote, was derailed last week after the attachment of the Cheuvront amendment during the Senate Committee of the Whole (COW), creating a Class 4 Felony for private sellers of firearms who fail to verify a buyer's citizenship when the sale is conducted at a gun show:
We have more good news. Representative Frank Antenori, who sponsored the House version of Constitutional Carry (HB 2347), has been appointed to replace Senator Jonathan Paton who vacated his seat to run for the U.S. House of Representatives. Senator Antenori is expected to be present when SB 1108 moves to the Senate floor for debate and vote.
Meanwhile, Senator Antenori’s House version of Constitutional Carry, HB 2347, passed out of the House Military Affairs and Public Safety (MAPS) Committee on February 3, 2010 and is awaiting a review by the House Rules Committee before heading to a floor debate in the House COW.
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February 26, 2010
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March event volunteers needed.
In March, AzCDL is working five events in Phoenix, Sierra Vista, Sonoita and Tucson.
Three of them are on the same day!
If you interested in volunteering, please contact John or Tom to get on the schedule.
Volunteers who contact us first get first choice on scheduling.
Phoenix – contact John .
Sierra Vista, Sonoita & Tucson – contact Tom.
March 6 is the Sierra Vista Freedom Rally at Veterans Memorial Park between 2 PM and 6 PM. Lots of political candidates will be there including AzCDL Director Duke Schechter. If you live in the area, come on down and help out at the AzCDL table.
March 20 & 21 is the Crossroads gun show at the Pima County Fairgrounds in Tucson.
March 26 through 28 is the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s annual Outdoor Expo at Ben Avery. Their 2009 event had over 35,000 visitors, so we’re expecting huge crowds. This event is an outstanding opportunity to introduce AzCDL to literally tens of thousands of prospective members. That means we’ll need a full compliment of eager-to-work volunteers.
That same weekend (March 27 & 28) is the McMann’s Roadrunner gun show at the Tucson Expo Center (free parking!).
And, to top it off, on March 27th, between 11 AM and 3 PM, the Sonoita/Elgin Tea Party is hosting an event, at the Santa Cruz Fair and Rodeo grounds in Sonoita. AzCDL has reserved table space and we need volunteers.
If you can spare a few hours we would deeply appreciate your help. AzCDL’s phenomenal growth is primarily because of the hard work of our volunteers. These events provide a great opportunity to educate other gun owners about our hard won successes and the legislation in the works this year that needs their support.
If your AzCDL membership is coming up for renewal, you’ll save $10 if you renew at any event! It’s like getting paid to attend! Sustaining memberships also get a FREE AzCDL t-shirt. Not a member? Not a problem! You can join AzCDL at these events and still get the $10 discount.
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February 25, 2010
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Constitutional Carry rides again!
SB 1102, the Senate version of Constitutional Carry may have been stalled by a few Senate Republicans “crossing the aisle” to vote with Democrats to add the Cheuvront amendment, but that doesn’t mean it’s “game over” for Constitutional Carry in Arizona. We are working with Senator Russell Pearce, the bill’s sponsor, to find a way to move the Senate bill forward in its proper form.
Even though the situation in the Senate remains tenuous, all is still not lost. AzCDL plans ahead! At the beginning of this session, identical versions of Constitutional Carry were introduced in both the House and Senate. The House version, HB 2347, was assigned to both the Judiciary and Military Affairs and Public Safety (MAPS) committees. HB 2347 passed out of the MAPS Committee on February 3, 2010, by a 5-2 vote. Though it didn’t seem to be moving in the House Judiciary Committee, Chairman Adam Driggs assured us that he supported the bill, and was only waiting to see that the concerns of stake holders had been addressed via negotiated amendments. On Tuesday, February 23rd, true to his word, Representative Driggs withdrew HB 2347 from the Judiciary Committee. It will now be scheduled for a review by the House Rules Committee before heading to a floor debate in the Committee of the Whole. Please take a minute to thank Chairman Driggs for his support.
Amendments were made to the bills mainly to address law enforcement’s concerns, but the underlying restoration of the right to carry concealed without a permit remains unchanged. As a result, most rank and file law enforcement organizations have dropped their opposition to the Constitutional Carry bills. The highlights of the current version of these bills include:
- Eliminating the prohibition and penalties for law-abiding adults who carry a concealed weapon without a permit in Arizona except in places, like restaurants serving alcohol, where the law requires a CCW permit.
- Increasing the penalties for criminals who carry a concealed weapon in the commission or attempted commission of a serious, violent, or major felony crime.
- Requiring a person carrying a concealed weapon to notify a Law Enforcement Officer, upon their request, that the person possesses a concealed weapon.
- Adding more training options for obtaining a CCW permit.
- Eliminating the storage requirement for CCW permit holders who enter a “non-secure” public building.
- Allowing LEOSA certified retired Law Enforcement Officers to carry on school grounds.
- Requiring confiscated firearms to be sold to an appropriate retailer rather than destroyed.
In other news, also on February 23rd, Representative Driggs released HB 2543, the House version of the firearms preemption bill, from his committee. HB 2543 passed out of the House MAPS Committee on February 17th by a vote of 7-1 with a recommendation for passage by the full House.
SB 1168, the Senate version of the firearms preemption bill, passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on February 22nd by a vote of 4-3 with a recommendation for passage by the full Senate.
Both firearms preemption bills will be reviewed in their respective Rules Committees before proceeding to Committee of the Whole (COW) debates.
SB 1153, the knife preemption bill, passed in the Senate Third Read on February 22, 2010 by a vote of 20-9 with one member not voting. It has been transmitted to the House.
On February 24, 2010, HCR 2008, which would, subject to voter approval, establish a Constitutional right to hunt and fish, passed out of the House MAPS Committee by a vote of 6-1 with one member voting present.
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February 22, 2010
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The Cheuvront amendment.
By now many of you have begun receiving responses from Senators Pierce and Tibshraeny about their votes to support the Cheuvront amendment, making it a class 4 felony to not check citizenship during a private firearm sale. We want to compliment the Senators for taking the time to respond to the over 500 emails they received over the weekend. However, AzCDL will continue to oppose the Cheuvront floor amendment to SB 1102.
Think about this for a minute. For years there has been a constant drumbeat, mainly from Democrat legislators, to oppose all attempts to allow state and local law enforcement officers to enforce federal immigration laws, and civilian border watchers are demonized for reporting illegal border crossings. Now those same legislators, who want to hamstring local law enforcement, are eager to transform everyday citizens into de facto immigration agents when they privately sell a firearm. Does that make sense to you? Could there be another motive, like ending the private sales of firearms?
Regulation of gun shows has been a Brady Center priority for years. Ultimately, what the Brady Bunch wants is the total elimination of gun shows, but requiring any regulation of private sales is an acceptable first step.
The text of the Cheuvront amendment creates a new “misconduct involving weapons” violation for “selling or transferring a firearm at a firearm show without requiring the purchaser or transferee to provide proof of citizenship” and defines both “firearm show” and “proof of citizenship”. A violation of this paperwork error would be a Class 4 felony crime, just like child abusers, drug dealers, kidnappers and arsonists.
Note that we aren’t just talking about purchases here. A “transfer” is just letting another person take possession of a firearm. Is that foreign looking guy about to pick up a gun on your table to look over? Handing your pistol to your buddy at the show so he can check it out? Better check for ID first, or you’re a felon.
“Firearm show” is defined as “an event that is sponsored, whether for profit or not, by an individual, national, state or local organization, association or other entity devoted to the collection, competitive use, sporting use or any other legal use of firearms and either of the following applies: (a) ten or more firearm exhibitors are participating. (b) a total of twenty-five or more pistols or revolvers are offered for sale or transfer.”
“Proof of citizenship means any of the following: (a) an Arizona driver license or nonoperating identification license issued after October 1, 1996. (b) a legible photocopy of a birth certificate that verifies citizenship and supporting legal documentation, including a marriage certificate, if the name on the birth certificate is not the same as the person's legal name. (c) a legible photocopy of pertinent pages of a United States passport identifying the person. (d) United States naturalization documents. (e) the person's Bureau of Indian Affairs card number or tribal treaty card number. (f) a legible photocopy of a driver license or nonoperating identification license from another state within the United States if the license indicates that the person has provided satisfactory proof of citizenship. (g) a legible photocopy of a tribal certificate of Indian blood or tribal or Bureau of Indian Affairs affidavit of birth."
Let’s think about a few of these details for a moment. We are not only talking about the traditional “gun show,” where we take the family to the fairgrounds and look at the wares on display from the vendors most are licensed dealers required by federal law to perform background checks. No, if an “individual” decides to sell “twenty-five or more pistols” that her late husband collected over the course of a lifetime, she’d better be ready to check the citizenship status of everyone who comes looking to buy one, or it’s off to jail she goes, along with the drug dealers and child beaters.
How about that proof of citizenship? Arizona issues driver licenses to legal resident aliens. So how does it qualify as proof of citizenship? How are you to know the difference? Isn’t profiling a bad thing? Then why are these legislators encouraging it? How about those other proofs? I don’t know about you, but I don’t have the foggiest clue what most of those documents actually look like. Someone could print one up in his basement that morning, and I would be none the wiser. Is the same government that would make me a felon for not checking for these documents going to bear some responsibility for educating me as to what I’m supposed to be checking for?
While the Senators are correct in stating that Arizona businesses must check the citizenship status of all employees, there are a few details they neglect to mention. One is that employers have access to a federal database to do such checks. Another is that if businesses are discovered to have hired an illegal alien, they are subject to the loss of their business license. There are no criminal penalties involved. They certainly aren’t risking seven years in prison and a felony record.
Despite all the folderol about stopping the flow of guns across the border, the reality is that making felons out of people who are conducting a perfectly legitimate activity (i.e. the private sale of firearms), one that has taken place in this country for hundreds of years without any of this nonsense surrounding it, will do absolutely nothing to solve the crime problem, either in Mexico or in Arizona.
It sure does go a long way towards killing a good bill (SB 1102) that would restore the right of the people of Arizona to keep and bear arms any way they choose, just as the Founders intended. Almost makes you wonder if that was the plan all along, doesn’t it?
That’s why this is very much a rights issue, not an immigration issue. If it was an immigration issue, there are plenty of immigration bills out there that they can attach this nightmare to.
Now, for some good news!
SB 1153, the knife preemption bill, passed in the Senate Third Read today (February 22, 2010) by a vote of 20-9 with one member not voting. It has been transmitted to the House.
SB 1168, the firearms preemption bill, passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee today by a vote of 4-3 with a recommendation for passage by the full Senate.
In related news, SB 2543, the House version of the firearms preemption bill, passed out of the House Military Affairs and Public Safety (MAPS) Committee on February 17, 2010, by a vote of 7-1 with a recommendation for passage by the full House.
Both firearms preemption bills will be reviewed in their respective Rules Committees before proceeding to Committee of the Whole (COW) debates.
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February 18, 2010
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Constitutional Carry sabotaged in Senate.
Earlier this afternoon (February 18, 2010), the Senate debated SB 1102 in the Committee of the Whole (COW). The COW debate is the last chance for a bill to get amended before a formal (Third Read) floor vote by the full Senate. During the COW debate, Democrat Senator Ken Cheuvront submitted a hostile amendment, right out of the Brady Center play book, which would make it a class 4 felony to not verify citizenship on any private sale conducted at a gun show. This is the same amendment that was defeated during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on SB 1102.
Initially, Senator Cheuvront’s amendment was defeated by voice vote during the debate on SB 1102. However, parliamentary procedures allowed him to reintroduce his amendment during the process of “closing” the COW calendar containing SB 1102 and a number of other bills. At that point, Senator Cheuvront asked for a recorded vote. As expected, all 12 Democrats in the Senate voted for the Cheuvront amendment. Of the 18 Republicans, Senator Jonathan Paton was not present for the vote, and the following 3 Republicans “crossed the aisle” to limit your freedoms, voting to PASS the Cheuvront amendment by a 15-14 vote.
Senator Carolyn S. Allen
Senator Steve Pierce
Senator Jay Tibshraeny
If any one of these Senators had voted against the Cheuvront amendment, it would have failed by 14-15. Joining in the vote of their fellow Democrats to damage your rights were two Democrats who have received favorable NRA ratings because of their prior support of pro-rights firearms legislation:
Senator “Manny” Alvarez
Senator Rebecca Rios
This is NOT the end of our attempt to get Constitutional Carry passed this session. There are several opportunities that we can take advantage of. However, at this point SB 1102 will not be calendared for a Senate Third Read (final vote before being sent to the House) until we have determined the optimum strategy.
Bottom-line: We will not sacrifice your right to privately sell firearms in order to achieve Constitutional Carry!
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February 17, 2010
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Constitutional Carry to be heard in Senate COW.
Your immediate action is needed to support SB 1102, the AzCDL-requested Senate version of Constitutional Carry that eliminates the prohibition and penalties for law-abiding adults who carry a concealed weapon without a permit.
A short while ago, the Senate placed SB 1102 on their Committee of the Whole (COW) agenda for Thursday, February 18, 2010. It is critical that you immediately contact your Senator and urge them to support SB 1102 during the COW debate.
Also in the Senate COW on Thursday is SB 1153, which establishes that state law preempts local rules and ordinances concerning the regulation of knives and knife making components.
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February 15, 2010
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Senate bills move & Constitutional Carry on track in House.
First, thanks to YOUR action, two bills sailed through the Senate Third Read on Monday, February 15, 2010.
SB 1021, which incorporates defensive display language into the statutes for the justification of deadly force, passed by a 21-9 vote.
SB 1172, which makes improvements to the Arizona Gun Safety Program and expands the categories of qualified instructors, passed by a unanimous 30-0 vote.
These bills will now cross over to the House of Representatives.
If you haven’t already done so, there is still time to contact Senate and House committee members urging them to support SB 1168 and HB 2543. Both bills strengthen state firearms preemption laws, add firearms storage and accessories to the list of things political subdivisions cannot regulate, and remove the prohibition on carrying a firearm in public parks without a CCW permit.
SB 1168 was scheduled to be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee at 1:30 PM on Monday, February 15, 2010, however proceedings on other bills ran long and SB 1168 has been rescheduled for the February 22nd hearing.
HB 2543 will be heard in the House Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee at 9:00 AM on Wednesday, February 17, 2010.
Over in the House, AzCDL representatives met with Representative Adam Driggs on the progress of HB 2347 (Constitutional Carry) on Monday, February 15, 2010. HB 2347 passed out of the House Military Affairs and Public Safety (MAPS) by a 5-2 vote on February 3, 2010. House Speaker Kirk Adams had also assigned the bill to the House Judiciary Committee, which Rep. Driggs chairs. Up until this point, HB 2347 has not been withdrawn from the committee or scheduled for a hearing.
Rep. Driggs has assured us that he is in favor of the bill and is not impeding its progress. However, because the language of the bill has been revised due to the concerns of numerous stake holders and an amendment is pending, he would prefer to see the final version of the proposed bill before releasing it from his committee. Rep. Driggs has agreed to withdraw HB 2347 as soon as the amendment language is finished. At that point, the bill will move out of the House Judiciary Committee and proceed through the rest of the legislative process.
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February 13, 2010
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Senate Bills & House Controversy.
Your action is needed on two Senate bills that are scheduled for Third Read votes on Monday, February 15, 2010.
The first is SB 1021, which incorporates defensive display language into the statutes for the justification of deadly force.
The second is SB 1172, which makes improvements to the Arizona Gun Safety Program and expands the categories of qualified instructors.
And, if you haven’t already done so, there is still time to contact Senate and House committee members urging them to support SB 1168 and HB 2543. Both bills strengthen state firearms preemption laws, add firearms storage and accessories to the list of things political subdivisions cannot regulate, and remove the prohibition on carrying a firearm in public parks without a CCW permit.
SB 1168 will be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee at 1:30 PM on Monday, February 15, 2010
HB 2543 will be heard in the House Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee at 9:00 AM on Wednesday, February 17, 2010.
Over in the House, controversy is brewing about Representative Adam Driggs’ stalling the progress of HB 2347 (Constitutional Carry). Many of you may have already seen the NRA’s comments about Rep. Driggs?
HB 2347 already passed out of the House Military Affairs and Public Safety (MAPS) by a 5-2 vote on February 3, 2010. House Speaker Kirk Adams had also assigned HB 2347 to the House Judiciary Committee, which Rep. Driggs chairs. Rep. Driggs has, at this point, refused to release the bill or schedule it for a hearing. AzCDL is continuing to work to resolve this impasse and to have HB 2347 heard by the full House.
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February 11, 2010
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Preemption hearings February 15 & 17, 2010.
SB 1168 will be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee at 1:30 PM on Monday, February 15, 2010.
HB 2543 will be heard in the House Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee at 9:00 AM on Wednesday, February 17, 2010.
Both bills strengthen state firearms preemption laws, add firearms storage and accessories to the list of things political subdivisions cannot regulate, and remove the prohibition on carrying a firearm in public parks without a CCW permit.
Your participation is critical for the success of this pro-rights legislation. It boils down to getting involved and making a difference or letting others determine the future of YOUR rights. It only takes a minute to click on the link to the Action Center, fill-in your name and address and send a message to the committee members. Make history! Get involved.
If you are available, we also urge you come down to the Capitol and testify on these bills. If you are interested, please contact Dave.
We thank everyone who took the time to contact their Representatives and Senator about HB 2305, SB 1021, and SB 1172, which were debated in Committee of the Whole (COW) hearings on February 11, 2010. Despite an extremely short notice, hundreds of messages were sent out by dedicated activists to most of the Legislature. All 3 bills passed out of COW. Well done!
More news! The NRA is throwing its weight behind the AzCDL-requested Constitutional Carry reform .
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February 4, 2010
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Legislation update.
Thanks to the hundreds of you generating almost 4,000 emails to committee members, we made great progress this week!
The companion AzCDL-requested Constitutional Carry bills, SB 1102 and HB 2347, were both voted out of their respective committees. The SB 1102 vote was 4-3 in the Senate Judiciary Committee and the HB 2347 vote was 5-2, with one member not voting, in the House Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee.
Both Constitutional Carry bills have been amended in almost identical fashion. The primary Constitutional Carry language remains intact! The biggest change was in the CCW training requirements. SB 1102 and HB 2347 originally proposed eliminating the CCW permit training altogether. The strong resistance to this was not unexpected. AzCDL-suggested language was added that improves, but no longer eliminates, the existing statutory CCW permit training requirements. This resulted in reduced opposition. Other changes to the Constitutional Carry bills include:
- Correcting the language regarding the sale (versus destruction) of confiscated weapons.
- Requiring CCW permit holders to have their permit, when required, and available to law enforcement.
- Preventing law enforcement from confiscating a weapon lawfully possessed by a permit holder.
- Other technical corrections.
As a result of AzCDL’s representatives addressing the concerns of “stakeholders” of SB 1102 and HB 2347, some of the law enforcement unions have changed their position to “neutral” (from “opposed”). This is critical to successful passage. And, the NRA has registered support for Constitutional Carry with their representative testifying during the HB 2347 hearings. We hope to see even more support from the NRA on these bills.
The next step for SB 1102 and HB 2347, as with all bills passing out of committee, is a review in the Rules Committee in their respective chambers before being scheduled for debate and vote on the Senate and House floors.
Constitutional Carry was not the only pro-rights issue being addressed this week.
SB 1011, authorizing college and university faculty members, with CCW permits, to possess a concealed firearm on campus, was heard in the Senate Public Safety and Human Services Committee on Wednesday, February 3, 2010, but after discussion was “held” without a vote.
SB 1015, clarifying the "no firearms" signage requirements for restaurants, is also being held. An agreement was reached with the stakeholders (i.e., Liquor Lobby), to clarify the posting requirements via a change in the liquor laws. Senator Barbara Leff, chair of the Senate Commerce and Economic Development Committee (where SB 1015 is assigned) is closely monitoring the situation.
SB 1098, the "Firearms Freedom Act," was heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday, February 1, 2009. It passed out of committee by a party line vote of 4-3. The House version of SB 1098 (HB 2307) passed out of the House Judiciary Committee on January 28, 2010.
It looks like next week will be relatively quiet. Most key firearms related bills have been voted favorably out of their assigned committees and appear to be moving along nicely.
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February 2, 2010
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Legislation update.
There are still 2 bills being heard in committees this week that need your emails. We’ve set up the messages for you in our Action Center. All you need to do is complete the “Sender Information” and click on the “Send” button. How easy is that? Links to the letters are provided below.
HB 2347, the House version of SB 1102 (Constitutional Carry), will be heard in the House Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee on Wednesday, February 3, 2010.
SB 1011, authorizing college and university faculty members, with CCW permits, to possess a concealed firearm on campus, will be heard in the Senate Public Safety and Human Services Committee on Wednesday, February 3, 2010.
Letters from constituents are strong motivators for legislators. A handful is meaningless. Hundreds, or thousands, really get their attention. This year we have “the” chance to restore your constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms, openly or concealed, without a government permission slip, via companion bills HB 2347 and SB 1102. There is a lot of money (your tax dollars) being spent to kill pro-rights bills, keep the status quo and feed legions of bureaucrats dependent on laws restricting your constitutionally protected rights. Your involvement will mean the difference between success and failure. You are the Arizona Citizens Defense League. It’s time to TAKE ACTION! .
And, thanks to YOUR involvement, we have good news!
SB 1098, the "Firearms Freedom Act," was heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday, February 1, 2009. It passed out of committee by a party line vote of 4-3.
SB 1102, the Senate version of the AzCDL-requested "Constitutional Carry" bill, was also heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday. It also passed out of committee by a party line vote of 4-3.
AzCDL has been tirelessly working behind the scenes to address concerns about SB 1102. To that end, SB 1102 was amended in committee without harming the underlying Constitutional Carry language. Changes were made that:
- Corrected the language regarding the sale (versus destruction) of confiscated weapons.
- Require CCW permit holders to have their permit and present it to law enforcement upon request.
- Prevent law enforcement from confiscating a weapon lawfully possessed by a permit holder.
- Modify the CCW permit training requirements to allow for NRA training, military service, an existing permit, etc.
- Made other technical corrections.
HB 2347 will be modified in a similar fashion.
A hostile amendment proposed by Senator Ken Cheuvront was also defeated during the committee hearing. This amendment would have required background checks on private firearm sales.
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January 30, 2010
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Committee Hearings Next Week!
Four pro-rights bills are scheduled for committee hearings next week.
SB 1098, the "Firearms Freedom Act," will be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday, February 1, 2009.
SB 1102, the AzCDL-requested "Constitutional Carry" bill, will also be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday.
HB 2347, the House version of SB 1102 (Constitutional Carry), will be heard in the House Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee on Wednesday, February 3, 2010.
SB 1011, authorizing college and university faculty members, with CCW permits, to possess a concealed firearm on campus, will be heard in the Senate Public Safety and Human Services Committee on Wednesday, February 3, 2010.
In other news, the following bills recently passed out of committee.
HB 2307, the House version of SB 1098 (Firearms Freedom Act), passed out of the House Judiciary Committee by a 5-2 vote, with one member absent, on January 28, 2010.
SB 1172, which improves the language in Arizona’s school gun safety program statutes, passed out of the Senate Education and Accountability Reform Committee, by a unanimous 7-0 vote, on January 27, 2010.
The normal process for any bill passing out of a committee is to go to their respective chambers Rules Committee. The following bills are due to be heard Monday, February 1, 2010 in the Senate Rules Committee:
SB 1021, which incorporates defensive display into the statutes regarding the justification for deadly force.
SB 1153, knife preemption.
SB 1172, school gun safety improvements.
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January 26, 2010
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More bills in committee this week!
First, thank you for contacting the Senate Judiciary Committee! Your emails and calls worked!
SB 1021, which incorporates defensive display into the justification for deadly force statutes, passed out of committee by a vote of 4-1 with 2 members not voting.
SB 1101, which allows certain detention officers and retired law enforcement to carry a concealed firearm without a CCW permit, passed by a 4-2-1 vote
SB 1153, knife preemption, passed by a 4-3 vote
SB 1098, the Arizona Senate’s version of the “Firearms Freedom Act,” and SB 1102, Constitutional Carry, were held over and will be rescheduled for an upcoming committee hearing.
Meanwhile, two other bills are being heard this week.
SB 1172, which enhances the school gun safety program, is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Education Accountability and Reform Committee on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at 1:30 PM.
HB 2307, the House’s version of the “Firearms Freedom Act” (SB 1098), is scheduled to be heard in the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday, January 28, 2010 at 9:00 AM.
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January 21, 2010
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Committee Hearing on January 25, 2010!
Bills are already starting to move! The Senate Judiciary Committee has the 5 following pro-rights bills scheduled for a hearing on Monday, January 25, 2010:
SB 1021 – Incorporates defensive display into the justification for deadly force statutes.
SB 1098 – Arizona’s version of the “Firearms Freedom Act.” If passed and signed into law, any firearm manufactured in Arizona and that remains in the state, “is not subject to Federal law or Federal regulation, including registration, under the authority of Congress to regulate interstate commerce and it not considered to have traveled in interstate commerce.”
SB 1101 – Allows certain detention officers and retired law enforcement to possess a concealed firearm without a CCW permit.
SB 1102 – The AzCDL-requested Constitutional Carry bill that eliminates the prohibition and penalties for adults carrying a concealed weapon without a permit.
SB 1153 – A knife preemption law being championed by the national Knife Rights organization
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January 14, 2010
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Constitutional Carry legislation filed!
AzCDL has been laying the groundwork for Constitutional Carry since we began. 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 and Representative Antenori 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. .
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.
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January 1, 2010
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Pro-rights bills filed early.
Even though the next “Regular” legislative session doesn’t being until Monday, January 11, 2010, some legislators have already begun “pre-filing” bills. The following pro-rights bills have been filed that affect our Right to Keep and Bear Arms (RKBA):
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.
SB 1011 (Harper) – Allows college/university faculty members with CCW permits to possess a concealed firearm on campus.
SB 1015 (Harper) – 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
SB 1021 (Pearce) – Similar to HB 2015.
AzCDL’s representatives have been working with legislators on new bills for a number of months. We are expecting the bulk of these pro-rights bills to be filed after the session officially begins. As they progress, we will keep you informed.
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