Last Friday, April 16, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed legislation that will – before summer’s end – enable citizens there to carry concealed handguns without a concealed carry permit.
Arizona now becomes the third state, following Vermont and Alaska in that order, which has no requirement to obtain a carry license to pack a defensive sidearm. The legislation was strongly lobbied by the Arizona Citizens Defense League, and gun rights activists across the map think this is a hot idea, insisting that governments should not have the authority to regulate the carrying of firearms by requiring a permit for concealed carry. Gov. Brewer signed the bill because she trusts the citizens she serves. The law will become effective sometime this summer, 90 days after the legislature adjourns.
I believe strongly in the individual rights and responsibilities of a free society, and as governor I have pledged a solemn and important oath to protect and defend the Constitution. I believe this legislation not only protects the Second Amendment rights of Arizona citizens, but restores those rights as well.”—Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer
This legislation would never have been signed by former Gov. Janet Napolitano, an anti-gun Democrat who vetoed several pro-firearms measures, and is now the Secretary of Homeland Security. Some police chiefs, most notably El Mirage Chief Mike Frazier, complained, “I know a lot of 21-year-olds; the maturity level is gravely concerning sometimes.” Yeah, and I know a few middle-aged guys with the same problem, including some politicians and maybe a cop here and there. So what?
According to Yahoo News, “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.” You mean, like this guy (YouTube video below), an undercover DEA agent wearing a “Police” T-shirt, demonstrating firearms safety to a classroom full of kids?
One might argue that a major reason this legislation makes sense is because of Arizona’s ironclad state constitutional right to bear arms provision. Article 2, Section 26 of Arizona’s Constitution, adopted in 1912, reads: “The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself or the State shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain, or employ an armed body of men.”
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.—Yahoo News
And that brings us around to Washington State, which adopted its constitution in 1889. Arizona copied our constitutional right to bear arms provision word-for-word. The provisions are identical. We have had a concealed carry statute since at least 1935, and Washington’s preemption statute adopted in 1983 and amended in 1985 has served as a model for similar laws in other states.
While Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and his predecessor, Greg Nickels, and Washington CeaseFire President Ralph Fascitelli want desperately to erode preemption, what happened in Arizona may give the Evergreen State firearms community other ideas.
Brewer does not believe Arizonans should need a "permission slip from the government' to exercise their constitutional right to carry guns just because of that difference.—Paul Senseman, spokesman for Gov. Jan Brewer, quoted in the Verde News.
When concealed carry permits first showed up, it was during an era when only those thought to be scalawags tucked a gun under their coat or vest. Honest people carried their guns in open holsters, if they packed a pistol, because honest people had nothing to hide. The logic at the time was that if an honest citizen got a permit to cover up, he had a good reason, and the permit was proof that he was a good guy. Anyone packing a gun without a permit was quickly identified as a scoundrel.
Today in Washington, you can pack a concealed handgun without a permit if you are engaged in a legitimate outdoor activity, such as hiking, fishing, camping and hunting, or if you are in your own home or place of business. Generally, however, you need a Concealed Pistol License (CPL), which is good for five years. Anti-gunners don’t like the fact that almost 260,000 Washington CPLs are out there, and they cringe when they see somebody openly carrying.
Constitution, Article 2, Section 26 Arizona The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself or the State shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain, or employ an armed body of men.
Constitution Article I, Section 24 Washington The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men.
In an ideal world, there would be no permit or license to carry, because one should not need permission from the government to exercise a civil right. Lawmakers and gun rights activists in Alaska and Arizona have “broken trail” for Washington State gun owners. Fair enough; we led the way on preemption.
Arizona had to wait for a Republican governor and legislature to get their law changed. That’s certainly something to think about, eh?
For more info: Washington State Gun Rights and Responsibilities.
Atlanta: Ed Stone | Austin: Howard Nemerov | Boston: Ron Bokleman | Charlotte: Paul Valone | Cheyenne: Anthony Bouchard | Chicago: Don Gwinn | Cleveland: Daniel White | DC: Mike Stollenwerk | Denver: Dan Bidstrup | Fort Smith: Steve D. Jones | Grand Rapids: Skip Coryel | Knoxville: Liston Matthews | | Los Angeles: John Longenecker | Minneapolis: John Pierce | National: David Codrea | Parkersburg: Nicholas Arnold | Phoenix: Douglas Little | Pittsburgh: Dan Campbell | Seattle: Dave Workman | St. Louis: Kurt Hofmann | Tucson: Chris Woodard | Wisconsin: Gene German
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Comments
Article IV, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution means that all citizens in all states have the same gun rights as the citizens of Arizona. We need the supreme court to confirm this now.
This is great news! I would love to see Washington State restore our rights as well.
Good. That means everybody and let he who is the quickest draw John Wayne style shoot first. The answer to flying bullets is, of course, MORE flying bullets--and they never have a name on them, so innocent people will get caught in the crossfire, even children and dogs. There's always the element of surprise. So unless you're planning on carrying it in your hand cocked and loaded, understand that you can be killed--even with a gun on you. It's open season on all of the criminals you think you can kill...only they won't BE criminals until you're the next one to die.
Scott, you're just a little stupid, aren't you? Compare locales with stringent laws against the bearing of arms and those with less stringent or no laws regarding the issue.
Can you honestly say all of Vermont is anywhere near as deadly and violent as one city in Illinois, Chicago? No, you damn sure cannot. And that comparison holds across the board.
Admit it, you just hate a free people. Harder to abuse.
Dave, you would have gotten the same result (and much more) with a Libertarian governor...
"There's always the element of surprise. So unless you're planning on carrying it in your hand cocked and loaded, understand that you can be killed--even with a gun on you."
Very true, but irrelevant. Your chances will be much better armed, especially in a situation where the criminal intends from the beginning to execute everyone at the crime scene. Plus, this may be a little radical, but what if MORE THAN ONE person was carrying at the crime? The bad guy might get the drop on the first carrier, only to be surprised himself by the second, third, and so on. Body count: 1 good guy and 1 bad guy, as opposed to 12 good people gone and the crook lives to rob and kill another day.
Schele Kennedy Scott, I live in Arizona.
We don't have shootouts in the streets, people being shot over parking places, blood running in the streets or the plethora of other dire consequences that you and your kind like to predict.
The fact is that Arizona, with our 'lax gun laws' is a safer place than where I used to live, Los Angeles, CA!
I really wish that people would educate themselves on the real world before spewing the kind of vitriole that you did below.
Please check out the violent crime statistics for 'Gun Safe' places like England or Australia before you rant about trying to stop violence by getting rid of guns.
They got rid of theirs, the violence there has risen dramatically because the thugs know that their victims will be unable to defend themselves!
But, I'm just preaching to the choir since you won't listen to anything that goes contrary to your world view.
Please come to AZ and see the lack of 'gunplay' here.
RonC
Question: Does "Constitutional Carry" apply to citizens of other states when visiting AZ? Or, will they still need to have a CCW?
AD says:
Question: Does "Constitutional Carry" apply to citizens of other states when visiting AZ? Or, will they still need to have a CCW?
When the law goes into effect, probably in August, you will be able to carry concealed regardless of where you are coming from.
If you already have a CCW, you won't have any problems.
RonC
AD says:
Question: Does "Constitutional Carry" apply to citizens of other states when visiting AZ? Or, will they still need to have a CCW?
When the law goes into effect, probably in August, you will be able to carry concealed regardless of where you are coming from.
If you already have a CCW, you won't have any problems.
RonC
Thank God for Jan Brewer! What a relief for AZ. getting rid that Liberal winch we had proir to Governor Brewer. That would be Napolitano.
Are there any sane people in Arizona?
Alex says:
Are there any sane people in Arizona?
Yes, several million of us!
If you own a gun & the passing of this law makes you happy; Join or make a donation to your fave 2 Amendment group. A national org like the NRA, SAF, CCRKBA, GOA or your State's org or Arizona Citizens Defense League (I'm sure they had a part in making this happen)
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