An NRA member just provided the following A/P article. CCW, “carry concealed weapons, ” has been a major campaign issue in the June 8th election of the next OC Sheriff.
The full A/P story link is provided at the end of this post.
Arizona to allow concealed weapons without permit
By PAUL DAVENPORT and JONATHAN J. COOPER, Associated Press Writers Paul Davenport And Jonathan J. Cooper, Associated Press Writers – Fri Apr 16, 7:39 pm ET
PHOENIX – Favoring the constitutional right to bear arms over others’ concerns about gun safety, Gov. Jan Brewer on Friday signed into law a bill making Arizona the third state allowing people to carry a concealed weapon without requiring a permit.
The measure takes effect 90 days after the current legislative session ends, which likely puts the effective date in July or August.
“I believe this legislation not only protects the Second Amendment rights of Arizona citizens, but restores those rights as well,” Brewer, a Republican, said in a statement.
Alaska and Vermont now do not require permits to carry concealed weapons.
By eliminating the permit requirement, the Arizona legislation will allow people 21 or older to forego background checks and classes that are now required.
Supporters say the bill promotes constitutional rights and allows people to protect themselves from criminals, while critics worry it will lead to more shootings as people with less training have fewer restrictions on carrying weapons.
Some police officials are concerned the law will lead to more accidental gun discharges from people untrained in firearm safety, or that shooters in stressful situations will accidentally strike innocent bystanders with stray bullets.
“I know a lot of 21-year-olds; the maturity level is gravely concerning sometimes,” said El Mirage Police Chief Mike Frazier, an Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police board member. “If you’re going to be carrying a weapon you should know what the law is and how to use it.”
However, the measure was supported by police unions representing rank-and-file officers, who said their best friend on the streets is a law-abiding citizen equipped to protect themselves or others.
The police chiefs group initially opposed the bill but then took a neutral stance after some provisions were changed at their request. Brewer’s office also participated in negotiations on changes to the bill.
A Democratic leader, Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, of Phoenix, said the bill deprives law enforcement of a tool “to separate good guys from the bad guys.” With a permit requirement, police encountering a person with a concealed gun but no permit had reason to suspect that person was not a law-abiding citizen, she said.
The Arizona Citizens Defense League, a gun-rights group that lobbied for passage of the “constitutional carry” bill, said gun owners foregoing permits still should get training. “The heaviest thing about wearing a firearm is the responsibility that comes with it,” the group said.
Forty-five other states require permits for hidden guns, and two states — Illinois and Wisconsin — prohibit them altogether.
Federal law requires anyone buying a gun from a licensed dealer to undergo a background check, but that requirement does not apply to sales by individuals who aren’t dealers. Arizona’s law won’t change that.
More than 154,000 people have permits to carry a concealed weapon in Arizona.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100416/ap_on_re_us/us_xgr_concealed_weapons_arizona
Look like Arizona Just got a little safer!
+1 for arizona!
Article states,
“Gov. Jan Brewer on Friday signed into law a bill making Arizona the third state allowing people to carry a concealed weapon without requiring a permit…By eliminating the permit requirement, the Arizona legislation will allow people 21 or older to forego background checks and classes that are now required…”
OKAY…UMMHH…
So ANYONE will be able to carry a concealed weapon, WITHOUT a PERMIT and WITHOUT a BACKGROUND check or Classes, which will also make it easier for CRIMINALS to carry weapons UNCHALLENGED…and this is supposed to make Arizonans safer?
Contrast that with Arizona passing the law where citizens/residents will be REQUIRED to carry immigration papers/or present work/residency PERMITS or it becomes a misdemeanor, and must produce them when cops have a so called “reasonable suspicion” that that person is illegal…so cops will be wasting time checking for papers rather than checking for weapons, which takes time away from cops also checking or enforcing laws against VIOLENT CRIMINALS.
Let’s see what would you fear the most, an ARMED CRIMINAL (Legal or illegal) or an illegal alien that is adding to the economic well-being of the nation.
I wonder how this “reasonable suspicion” will be formulated:
Based on color of your eyes or skin;
spelling of your last name;
the pronunciation of your last name; or
whether you speak with an accent, or possibly a lisp…
does this make you look or sound more or less LEGAL or AMERICAN??? And how likely is it that it will be applied equally, or rather UNEQUALLY, and thus violating equal protection under the law clause of the US Constitution.
You know, there are British, Canadian or citizens from other countries that speak better and more proper English than US Citizens or Legal Residents, but this does not necessarily make these British, Canadian, or citizens from other countries more LEGAL or more American than other US Citizens or Legal Residents.
Francisco “Paco” Barragan