Arizona to allow concealed weapons without permit

[millsusaf]

Wow, you guys sound like a bunch of illegal Mexicans. Let's all move to [STRIKE]America[/STRIKE] Arizona! It's so nice there!

Why don't we just get Indiana to pass a similar measure? We can one up Arizona and have the state actually pay us to carry firearms for the defense of Indiana.

And why would we want the state to pay us?????? Wouldn't that mean more taxes....

AZ is doing lots of things right recently. I'm hopeful they will continue on that path and NOT re-elect McCain. I would love to see IN follow suit or even better one up AZ on many issues. Question is will they?

 

[Garb]

AZ is doing lots of things right recently. I'm hopeful they will continue on that path and NOT re-elect McCain.

I couldn't agree more. On a side note, I'm takin a road trip!

 

[Prometheus]

I would love to see IN follow suit or even better one up AZ on many issues. Question is will they?

Only if the people elect good reps AND call, write, email and SHOW UP AT TOWN HALL MEETINGS!

Get involved people!

 

[Vince49]

I loved living in AZ. Way down south at Fort Huachuca the climate is claimed to be the best in the world.

Canon Cocker huh?

 

[lashicoN]

And why would we want the state to pay us?????? Wouldn't that mean more taxes....

AZ is doing lots of things right recently. I'm hopeful they will continue on that path and NOT re-elect McCain. I would love to see IN follow suit or even better one up AZ on many issues. Question is will they?

Over 400 posts and you don't know that purple means sarcasm? Well, purple text means someone is being sarcastic, for example - I said that the state should pay us to carry firearms for Indiana's defense, but I typed that in purple. This means that I was being sarcastic about Indiana paying us to carry firearms.

Understand now?

 

[coda80]

packing my bags. Arizona here i come!

if only i could talk the wife into it.

 

[muncie1]

Great for Arizona. I wish all states would do this.

 

[millsusaf]

Over 400 posts and you don't know that purple means sarcasm? Well, purple text means someone is being sarcastic, for example - I said that the state should pay us to carry firearms for Indiana's defense, but I typed that in purple. This means that I was being sarcastic about Indiana paying us to carry firearms.

Understand now?

Sorry, I didn't get that memo. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[smoking357]

Its a start,maybe more will follow suit

Not here. Mitch wants your cash.

Licensing rights is a great way to get revenue.

 

[JBusch8899]

Not here. Mitch wants your cash.

Licensing rights is a great way to get revenue.

You'll note that Alaska still offers one, so that one can travel and carry to other states that offer recognition/reciprocity. Indiana can also offer unrestricted non resident LTCHs, just as other states, such as CT, UT, TX, FL, PA, et al.

 

[TopDog]

So this went into effect 29 July 2010 and the world has not come to an end, there has been no spontaneous eruption of chaos as a result. Just more proof that loosening the reigns on gun control does not spark the end of the world.

Arizona's concealed-weapon law takes effect

Arizona's concealed-weapon law takes effect

Today is the day gun-rights advocates have had in their sights for a long time.

Starting today, Arizona residents at least 21 years old can carry a concealed weapon without a permit.

The change is part of a broad weapons law by state Sen. Russell Pearce passed by the state Legislature in April that eases restrictions on concealed carry and stiffens penalties for committing a crime while carrying a concealed weapon.

The law is one of many passed by the state Legislature this past session that go into effect today.

Arizona joins Alaska and Vermont as the only states to allow concealed weapons without a permit.

However, the impact of the law is likely to be different in Arizona than those states because Arizona's population is much larger and because the state has major metropolitan areas.

"It's one thing to carry a loaded weapon in public when your closest neighbor is a mile or 5 miles away," said Brian Malte, director of state legislation for the Brady Campaign, an interest group that lobbies for gun regulations. "It's a very different situation when you're in a densely-populated urban environment."

But that lack of precedent makes it difficult to predict the law's impact.

Opponents say that without permitting and training, individuals might place themselves in situations where they might break the law or hurt themselves and others.

Proponents say that concealed carry is not substantially different from open carry, which the state already allows without a permit, and that the new law simply lets law-abiding citizens carry weapons in whatever way is most comfortable.

The law has already created changes for the firearms community, local businesses and police departments. It has also galvanized gun-rights groups to seek further deregulation.

Concealed carry

The law's passage is the culmination of several years of political maneuvering to ease gun regulations in Arizona.

During her time as governor, Janet Napolitano vetoed at least a dozen different weapons bills - several similar to the law going into effect today - that would have eased restrictions on gun owners.

But Napolitano's departure and the appointment of Gov. Jan Brewer in January 2009 gave the Legislature and gun-rights groups an ally in the executive office. Brewer signed the law April 16.

Last year, legislators passed a law allowing concealed-weapon permit holders to enter bars and restaurants.

In Arizona's nearly 100-year history as a state, lawmakers have done little to restrict individuals' ability to carry weapons openly.

Proponents of the new law argue that open carry has not had any impact on public safety or gun violence and that concealed carry without a permit won't alter that.

"It's really just a matter of preference," said Rachel Parsons, a spokeswoman for the National Rifle Association. "If a woman wants to carry her gun in her purse, she should be allowed to do that as easily as carrying it on her hip."

But opponents of the law say that concealed carry creates a different environment that could land untrained individuals in trouble.

"If a weapon is not concealed, you're aware of a potential problem and it's easier to avoid it," said Arnold Rudley, a gun owner who took a permit course on July 17. "With concealed carry, the knowledge of a potential problem goes away and you might walk into a bad situation without knowing it."

What changes

The law makes several changes to the permitting process and rules regulating concealed carry:

• It removes the requirement that individuals have a permit to carry a concealed weapon anywhere that open carry is allowed. Individuals will still need a permit to carry a concealed weapon in bars and restaurants and to qualify for reciprocal privileges when in states that require permits.

• The new law lets individuals obtain permits through means other than the eight-hour training course mandated under the previous law. These other means include any NRA firearms- or safety-training course and a hunter-education course administered by the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

• It requires individuals to answer honestly if police ask if they are carrying a weapon. The law also allows police officers to take temporary custody of a weapon during stops.

• It stiffens penalties for individuals who commit crimes while carrying a concealed weapon.

Effects

The law's provisions have already reached into the firearms community, local businesses and law-enforcement offices.

Local companies that offer the training course for permits have seen business drop about 80 percent since the law was signed, said David White, owner and instructor of Desert West Firearms Training Center in Mesa.

Many of these companies have either lowered their prices or created new, shorter courses to get gun owners to conduct some training before carrying concealed weapons.

Several instructors said that although they support the right to carry weapons without restrictions, they think gun owners should be responsible enough to seek out training.

They say there are complex laws regarding the use of force. Without any training, they say, individuals could wind up breaking the law.

"I get people coming through my door all the time who know absolutely nothing about the use of force," said Doug Little, who owns and teaches at Armed Personal Defense Institute in Scottsdale. "It's important for them to understand the laws and consequences before they drop that thing in their pocket."

Local law-enforcement offices have discussed the new law with patrol officers, but a spokesman for the Phoenix Police Department said officers have not gone through any special training.

Businesses outside the firearms community have also adjusted to the new law. Under a 2009 law, bars and restaurants wishing to ban firearms must post signs at their entrances to notify patrons.

The Department of Liquor Licensing and Control, which distributes the signs, has seen as many requests for the signs in the past 3 months as it saw since the law went into effect in October.

What's next

Gun-rights advocates see the new law as a major victory in their push to further deregulate the carrying of weapons.

Some provisions of the law were removed as the bill wound its way through the Legislature. Advocacy groups said they will pick up the fight next year to have those provisions passed.

 

[jboritzki]

And we all know the anti gunners are going to point out every single shooting that involves a criminal or illegal and blame it on this bill. If this bill was already law, they would have pointed out the farmer that was shot to death on his own property by an illegal immigrant drug runner and say it's because of this new law.

I can't say it will make the crime go down there. Maybe the normal crime, maybe not. It's not really a normal state. It's got crazy drug cartels moving their drugs through that state, which is honestly why the murder rate in the U.S. is higher than other places in the world. Most murders anywhere in the country are over drugs and it's usually just bad guys killing other bad guys.

 

[beararms1776]

I'll present my case to Mrs.Jan Brewer when I get to Arizona.

 

[jboritzki]

And just wait for the first illegal immigrants, with criminal records, to be shot while breaking into a home. The nut cases are going to say that because Arizona is so racist, they have armed every citizen so they can start target shooting at illegal immigrants. Great law though. I hope all states go this way.

 

[SSGSAD]

Top Dog, you are awsome..... Semper Fi !!!!!

 

[Bapak2ja]

The more I hear about AZ, the more I want to move there......

It doesnt snow there either. Why NOT move to AZ?

These are good reasons to move there, but remember the battle has only started. The drug cartels are still invading and occupying Arizona territory, Obama is still trying to keep the border open and deny security to the citizens, and the battle for secession may be ignited there—but Arizona may back down when push comes to shove.

I suggest we wait. They are doing just fine without us. If it really comes to a crisis, that will be the time to move there. Then we can take our honor and our courage with us. We can leave the women and children safe in Indiana until the issue is resolved.

 

[Principal Skinr]

Its a start,maybe more will follow suit

Hopefully, but I wouldn't bet on ours. Mitch had too hard a time signing the law that allows people to keep a gun in their vehicle at work.

I'll bet Texas might be one that could pull it off. Certainly some of the red states in the middle might.

I just can't see the Hoosier state, which voted for Obama, going that far.

 

[Woodsman]

Hopefully, but I wouldn't bet on ours. Mitch had too hard a time signing the law that allows people to keep a gun in their vehicle at work.

I'll bet Texas might be one that could pull it off. Certainly some of the red states in the middle might.

I just can't see the Hoosier state, which voted for Obama, going that far.

Was the problem actually the Governor of the Dem's? Indiana used to be pretty darn red as far as I remember when I lived down there. Some of the bigger cities were the worst though as that's where the cockroaches were starting to congregate for making or interpreting laws.

 

[Principal Skinr]

Was the problem actually the Governor of the Dem's? Indiana used to be pretty darn red as far as I remember when I lived down there. Some of the bigger cities were the worst though as that's where the cockroaches were starting to congregate for making or interpreting laws.

It will turn red again, but it won't go far enough to allow for CCW without a permit. Just my feeling. I'd love to be wrong.

 

[Lucas156]

That is some of the best news Ive heard in a while. Yeah I know it doesn't effect us here in Indiana directly but it gives some hope that we can head in the right direction. Freedom! We need to write our representatives, vote, and be vigilant in the political process. Perseverance will win in this fight for freedom.