Dahwg
Regular Member
imported post
As good as we have it here in AZ for OC and gun rights in general, we really have to do something about that nutcase up in Phoenix. How in the world did she get elected? TWICE?
FROM an AZCDL ALERT.
HB 2630, an AzCDL requested bill that reduces the penalty for carrying a concealed weapon without a permit to a petty offense, was vetoed by the Governor on April 29, 2008. You can read her veto letter here: http://www.azleg.gov/govlettr/48leg/2R/HB2630.pdf .
HB 2630 would have reclassified carrying a concealed weapon without a permit as a petty offense, unless the violation occurred in the commission of, or attempted commission of, a "serious offense or violent crime", in which case the CCW offense would have been a class 6 felony, or any other felony offense, in which case it would have remained a class 1 misdemeanor. In a nutshell, if you're a bad guy carrying a concealed weapon, penalties would have been stiffened. If you're a law-abiding citizen, it would have become a petty offense.
Under current law, if you have not been issued a concealed weapons (CCW) permit, it is a class 1 misdemeanor to carry a concealed weapon. Everyone is treated like a criminal. Sadly, because of a couple of 1994 Appellate Court decisions, there is no clear, objective standard in statute that you can rely on to determine if you are violating the law.
In her veto letter on HB 2630, Governor Napolitano says "obtain the required permit." She then says that "people who fail to do so are, by definition, lawbreakers…." She goes on to say that "serious criminals, especially gang members, often carry concealed weapons without permits." Per the Governor, there is no distinction between gang members intentionally breaking the law, and a law-abiding person's attempt to comply with a law clouded by head-scratching court decisions. If your openly carried firearm can't be seen because of the angle that the police officer is looking at you, and you don't have a CCW permit – you are the same as a gang member. If you have a CCW permit, and are sitting near someone in a vehicle that may have access to your firearm – they are the same as gang members. If a newspaper falls over the gun that is sitting on the seat of your vehicle, and you don't have a CCW permit – you are the same as a gang member.
Governor Napolitano says that "…law enforcement officers must have the full array of enforcement options to use against these violators…" In other words, arrest everyone and let the courts sort it out. That sure beats separating the bad guys from the good guys.
Over 98% of Arizona citizens do not have concealed weapons permits, largely because the Arizona Constitution supposedly protects the right to "open carry." Per Governor Napolitano, that's not relevant – you better get a permit if your weapon might ever be considered concealed, or else you're a lawbreaker!
Information on this and other bills can be found at the AzCDL website: http://www.azcdl.org/html/legislation.html
As legislation progresses, we will keep you up to date via these Alerts and at our website.
These alerts are a project of the Arizona Citizens Defense League (AzCDL), an all volunteer, non-profit, non-partisan grassroots organization. Join today!
AzCDL – Protecting Your Freedom
http://www.azcdl.org/html/join_us_.html
:cuss::cuss::cuss::cuss::cuss::cuss::cuss::banghead:
As good as we have it here in AZ for OC and gun rights in general, we really have to do something about that nutcase up in Phoenix. How in the world did she get elected? TWICE?
FROM an AZCDL ALERT.
HB 2630, an AzCDL requested bill that reduces the penalty for carrying a concealed weapon without a permit to a petty offense, was vetoed by the Governor on April 29, 2008. You can read her veto letter here: http://www.azleg.gov/govlettr/48leg/2R/HB2630.pdf .
HB 2630 would have reclassified carrying a concealed weapon without a permit as a petty offense, unless the violation occurred in the commission of, or attempted commission of, a "serious offense or violent crime", in which case the CCW offense would have been a class 6 felony, or any other felony offense, in which case it would have remained a class 1 misdemeanor. In a nutshell, if you're a bad guy carrying a concealed weapon, penalties would have been stiffened. If you're a law-abiding citizen, it would have become a petty offense.
Under current law, if you have not been issued a concealed weapons (CCW) permit, it is a class 1 misdemeanor to carry a concealed weapon. Everyone is treated like a criminal. Sadly, because of a couple of 1994 Appellate Court decisions, there is no clear, objective standard in statute that you can rely on to determine if you are violating the law.
In her veto letter on HB 2630, Governor Napolitano says "obtain the required permit." She then says that "people who fail to do so are, by definition, lawbreakers…." She goes on to say that "serious criminals, especially gang members, often carry concealed weapons without permits." Per the Governor, there is no distinction between gang members intentionally breaking the law, and a law-abiding person's attempt to comply with a law clouded by head-scratching court decisions. If your openly carried firearm can't be seen because of the angle that the police officer is looking at you, and you don't have a CCW permit – you are the same as a gang member. If you have a CCW permit, and are sitting near someone in a vehicle that may have access to your firearm – they are the same as gang members. If a newspaper falls over the gun that is sitting on the seat of your vehicle, and you don't have a CCW permit – you are the same as a gang member.
Governor Napolitano says that "…law enforcement officers must have the full array of enforcement options to use against these violators…" In other words, arrest everyone and let the courts sort it out. That sure beats separating the bad guys from the good guys.
Over 98% of Arizona citizens do not have concealed weapons permits, largely because the Arizona Constitution supposedly protects the right to "open carry." Per Governor Napolitano, that's not relevant – you better get a permit if your weapon might ever be considered concealed, or else you're a lawbreaker!
Information on this and other bills can be found at the AzCDL website: http://www.azcdl.org/html/legislation.html
As legislation progresses, we will keep you up to date via these Alerts and at our website.
These alerts are a project of the Arizona Citizens Defense League (AzCDL), an all volunteer, non-profit, non-partisan grassroots organization. Join today!
AzCDL – Protecting Your Freedom
http://www.azcdl.org/html/join_us_.html
:cuss::cuss::cuss::cuss::cuss::cuss::cuss::banghead:
