"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government" ~ Thomas Jefferson, 1 Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334
This group is dedicated to preserving the rights of responsible gun owners everywhere.
"Right to Carry" - Reform Bill Proposed in Arizona
Monday, February 09, 2009
AZ House Bill 2420 ~ "Right to Carry"
HB2420 creates a felony offense for having a compartment in a motor vehicle that “is intended and designed to be used to conceal, hide or prevent discovery by law enforcement officers.” Therefore, any hidden compartment in a vehicle could be construed in such a fashion, and nearly every vehicle on the road has at least one such compartment. House Bill 2420 clarifies that a permit holder may carry a gun in a closed purse while traveling in a car, without putting passengers without permits in legal jeopardy. As the law stands now in Arizona, if a Right-to-Carry permit holder is carrying a firearm concealed in a purse in a vehicle, the passengers without permits could be in violation of the law. The Bill has been proposed in the Arizona Legislature, but due to a budget crisis, it has yet been assigned to a committee.
Please contact your State Representative and State Senator TODAY and respectfully urge them to support HB2420.
Senate Bill 1004 ~ Waring - "Unlawful False Compartment; Motor Vehicles"
SB1004 creates a felony offense for having a compartment in a motor vehicle that “is intended and designed to be used to conceal, hide or prevent discovery by law enforcement officers.” Therefore, any hidden compartment in a vehicle could be construed in such a fashion, and nearly every vehicle on the road has at least one such compartment. The language is far too broad and open to interpretation. This bill is in direct violation of the "Castle Doctrine" extension (Harper) that passed in one of the last legislative sessions where a non-permit holder had the right to carry a handgun in their map pocket door of their car. AzCDL strongly opposes this bill.
Senate Bill 1243 ~ "Defensive Display"
SB 1243 clarifies when Defensive Display is justified, and has 18 co-sponsors. This bill is similar to an AzCDL-requested bill filed last year that passed in the Legislature but was vetoed by our former anti-rights Governor. Defensive display includes:
- Verbally informing another person that you have a firearm available.
- Exposing or displaying a firearm in a manner that conveys you mean to protect yourself.
- Placing your hand on your firearm while it is holstered or in a pocket, purse or other
means of containment.
S. 22
Will greatly expand the amount of land controlled by the National Park
Service. NPS land is currently subject to a gun ban. There is NO provision in this bill for amendments. Pro-gun members who want to offer an amendment to fully repeal the NPS gun ban are prevented from doing so by the anti-gun leadership.
ACTION: Please urge your Representative to repeal the NPS gun ban in S. 22, or to vote against the entire bill.
Update On National "Right to Carry" Reciprocity Bills
Friday, February 06, 2009 ~ NRA-ILA
This week, Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) introduced S. 371, the Senate companion bill to H.R. 197 -- the "National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2009." H.R. 197 was introduced last month by U.S. Representatives Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) and Rick Boucher (D-Va.), and would provide national recognition for valid state Right-to-Carry licensees.
The bill would allow any person with a valid carry permit or license issued by a state, to carry a concealed firearm in any other state if the permit holder meets certain criteria. In states that issue permits, a state's laws governing where concealed firearms may be carried would apply within its borders. In states that do not issue carry permits, a federal standard would apply. The bill would not create a federal licensing system; it would simply require the states to recognize each other's carry permits, just as they recognize drivers' licenses.
Contact your U.S. Senators and Representative and ask them to co-sponsor and support S. 371 and H.R. 197.
For information on how to contact your Senators and Representatives go to:
http://www.resistnet.com/group/arizonachapterofthepatrioticresistan...
Excellent sources for news, information and legislation:
http://www.nraila.org/
http://www.nssf.org/
http://www.azcdl.org/
http://www.keepandbeararms.com/newsarchives/XcNewsPlus.asp?cmd=view...
http://www.gunowners.org
http://townhall.com/Columnists/KenBlackwell/2009/02/09/obama,_ginsburg_and_guns?page=full&comments=true