More Women Signing up for Concealed Carry Classes

John R Lott Jr on HR 822

John R. Lott Jr posted a great article about HR 822 titled "What's Wrong With Making It Easier to Carry a Gun Across State Lines?"

Take a look at HR 822, it is straight forward, essentially similar to existing Federal law that tells States that they must recognize drivers licenses issued by other States. HR 822 tells States that if they issue concealed carry permits, they must recognize concealed carry permits issued by other States. It is only a few paragraphs long, and is so simple that even my 5th grader understandood it. Really. I had him read it and explain it to verify my theory.

Interview on Gun Laws in CA

Well done interview:



In the interview CA State Assemblyman Anthony Portantino mentioned that he wanted to remove the "loophole" in California that does not yet deny American Citizens the ability to bear unloaded firearms who have not yet been granted a piece of paper by a mighty Sheriff, yet he failed to mention the fact that Thousands of California Residents are DENIED said piece of paper every single year because they write down on their application that the reason they wish to apply is simply because they wish to be able to defend their own life or the life of their loved ones while they are away from their own homes. Not to mention those of us who visit from out of State who are not even eligible to apply for a permit, nor are our own permits recognized.

That's right, apparently in California in the mind of many lawmakers your life is worth LESS than diamonds or dollars. If you are protecting cash being deposited at the bank you can get a permit. If you are defending life and limb, forget it.

My message to Anthony Portantino and any lawmakers who agree with him: It is time to Go HOME!

H/T to Sebastian

USCCA Concealed Carry Report

Have you signed up for the free USCCA Concealed Carry Report put out by the USCCA? It is 100% free, and has a lot of valuable insights and information in every release.

AZ: More People Armed for Self Defense

When I went in to my Doctor's office for my yearly blood work and EKG this week the nurse asked me to take off my shirt so she could attach the electric probes, which exposed the gun holstered in my IWB Holster. Last year the very same nurse seemed rather nervous while she told me she did not like guns, but this year she simply asked me if I had a CCW permit or if I was taking advantage of the new Constitutional Carry law here in Arizona that went into effect last month.

I told her that I do have a CCW permit, and that I plan to maintain it so that I can continue to receive reciprocity when I travel out of State, at least until we get Constitutional Carry instituted across the Country. She then revealed to me that she has seen a marked increase in the number of people bearing arms for self defense since the new law went into effect, many of whom have told her that they had avoided going through the process to get a CCW permit for various reasons, but were glad to finally be able to exercise their right to bear arms without asking the government for a special permission slip.

The observations of a single nurse are not a sound basis for a scientific study, but it is still very encouraging to hear that the Constitutional Carry law appears to be making a positive difference in the lives of many Americans finally free to enjoy more of their constitutionally guaranteed liberties while here in Arizona. As an added bonus, any thugs wanting to find easy targets in Arizona will now have to deal with many more potential targets being prepared to defend themselves and their loved ones. Many crooks will likely soon choose to move to a State where the local government ensures more of their potential victims are unarmed and defenseless.

The icing on the cake: she revealed to me that although she didn't even like guns a year ago, she has pulled a complete 180: She & her husband went through the process to obtain CCW permits earlier this year. I always love to see more Americans preparing themselves for self defense against treacherous thugs!

John Grady: Essay on Constitutional Carry

John Grady was kind enough to share with us an essay he wrote for his College Class on the topic of Arizona's new Constitutional Carry law:

Arizona Concealed Carry

Arizona has much history involving the “Wild West”; Doc Holiday, Wyatt, Vigil, and Morgan Earp, “gun-slinging”, and the shoot-out at the O.K. Corral. On July 29, 2010, many believe this day will be ushering in the reincarnation of the Wild West. From this date forward, any US citizen in the state of Arizona, age 21 and older with no felonies on record may carry a concealed firearm without a permit. This new law has raised many questions, and is in many ways controversial. Is it a bad idea? What kind of change will we see in society, if any? Will we see more crime or less? Let us analyze the concept of carrying a concealed firearm, potential scenarios where this new law may come into play, and our Second Amendment rights.

You may be asking yourself, “What is the definition of ‘Concealed Carry’?” Concealed carry is when an individual carries a firearm, specifically a handgun, on their person in a manner that is unseen by the public eye. Before this new law, it is an illegal act to carry a firearm in a concealed fashion without a license, punishable by incarceration for up to six months, and a fine of up to $2500. To obtain this license, one must be at least 21 years of age and go through an 8 hour course that includes subjects on use of force, legality, concealing techniques, and shooting qualification at the shooting range. Additionally, one must be able to pass a background check.

The requirement of a license has kept a very small amount of control over criminal activity in which a concealed handgun was involved. As we see in society today, gun laws never effect the “bad guys”. Many individuals involved in crime, organized or not, are obviously not concerned in upholding the law, but rather breaking it and thus not concerned with taking the time or paying the cost of getting a concealed carry license... Not to mention the fact that most have at least one felony on their record, disqualifying them from being able to receive a license in the first place. This means that when one of these individuals are caught with a concealed firearm, they are put behind bars. But what happens when one of these jailbirds gets out of prison? A recent study by the Criminal Justice Reform Coalition shows that over half the individuals that get out of jail go right back to committing crimes and end up being thrown back in prison again. As many of you who watch the news and read the newspaper can see, this is just an endless cycle. The majority of these gangsters carry a firearm in an illegal, concealed fashion on a daily basis.

Where does this leave the citizens who uphold the law, but don’t have the time or the money to go through the course? Where does this leave the gentleman who is just buying a pack of smokes when an armed gunman decides to hold up the Circle-K? He can’t exactly defend himself or others with a box of Marlboro “Reds”. What about the woman who is just walking to her car in a dark parking lot at night when a potential rapist corners her? What happens when her pepper spray isn’t enough? Maybe she owns a pistol but doesn’t have it in her purse to protect herself with because she is in a situation in which she doesn’t have the money or time to get her license. This, in my opinion, is a violation of our Second Amendment right to bear arms and to protect ourselves. Many people find themselves in similar situations. Many people own a firearm, but don’t have a concealed carry license. Now, with this new law, a law-abiding citizen may conceal a firearm on their person without the once required license, and have a chance to defend themselves, should they find themselves in a less than favorable situation.

Could this new law create a safer environment? I most certainly believe it can, and will. An armed and ready public can discourage a vast majority of criminal acts, from robbery, to violent crimes and rape. In Arizona, you will see a drop in crime rates, because now there is the “Unknown Factor” that the crook has to worry about. Before the individual commits a crime, s/he will have to consider that many of the people present could be carrying a concealed weapon. The whole room could be concealing a firearm, which makes for some very unfavorable odds if you are about to rob the place.

Kennesaw, Georgia provides a perfect example of what this law can do for the public. In March 1982, the small town passed an ordinance requiring each head of household to own and maintain a gun. Since then, despite similar predictions of "Wild West" showdowns, increased violence and accidents we are hearing now, not a single resident has been involved in a fatal shooting. That’s 28 years murder-free, as compared to Morton Grove, Illinois, who adopted a gun ban for everyone other than police, and witnessed their crime rate go up 15.7% despite predictions of the opposite occurring.

This new law, in my opinion will employ the “Sheepdog Concept”, as Lt. Col. Dave Grossman puts it in his book “On Combat”. The Sheepdog Concept is where the “sheepdog”, or protector in this scenario, sees a “sheep”, or victim, suffering an injustice or a violent crime by a “wolf”, or perpetrator. The sheepdog cannot just stand by and watch, but must step in to protect the sheep from the wolf. The sheepdog cannot abide with injustice. Don’t confuse the Sheepdog Concept with vigilantism. We aren’t talking about the Boondock Saints here. The sheepdogs of society don’t go looking for trouble, but are ready, should they encounter it. For instance, a man who is carrying a concealed firearm under this new law, witnesses a woman being robbed at gunpoint. The man decides to step in and use his firearm to save the woman, and possibly preserve her life. Now that people may carry concealed, I believe it will give many a feeling that they can have an impact and actually make a difference in a similar situation because they have the tool at their disposal to do so with.

In December 2007, Matthew J. Murray, an armed gunman, killed multiple individuals at a youth center in Arvada, California. He then proceeded to drive to New Life Church in Colorado Springs to do the same. When he arrived at the church, he pulled out his firearm and open fired in the parking lot and the foyer, killing two people and wounding three. Out of hundreds of people present, Jeanne Assam had a concealed carry license and a pistol in her purse. She drew it from her purse and shot Murray multiple times, wounding him so severely that he ended up taking his own life. This woman was prepared for a day that she probably thought she would never see. This woman was a sheepdog and she could not abide with the injustice this gunman was inflicting. She saved lives that day. Imagine if a large portion of the population was prepared in such a manner. Would the gunman have even considered pulling this move with the “Unknown Factor”? Even if he did, he most likely wouldn’t have made it out of the Youth Center he shot up.

With the new law, we are seeing support of our Second Amendment right that hasn’t been in play since the early 1900’s. This law is a major restoration of our principal right to defend ourselves and the lives of others. It is pertinent that we exercise our right to bear arms, now that a huge portion of it is being given back to us. I encourage everyone who is going to utilize this new law to be responsible, and to educate yourself on the legal aspects on use of force, as well as the types of establishments in which you can and cannot carry your weapon. You can find this information on Arizona’s Department of Public safety website. I also encourage you to go out to the shooting range and practice, so if you ever see a day in which you may have to use your weapon (and I pray you never see that day), your shots will be precise and well placed. Don’t be afraid to carry a concealed weapon!

IA: Iowa Becomes 41st Shall Issue State

Iowa Governor Chet Culver Signed their Shall Issue Concealed Carry bill (SF-2379) into Law today, making Iowa the 41st State to mandate that all concealed carry applicants be treated equally under the law rather than subject to subjective case by case determinations by their local Sheriff as still occurs in the remaining "may issue" States. The new law will take effect January 1st 2011.

Congratulations Iowa!

Additionally, Iowa will honor all Concealed Carry permits issued by other States which will allow me to actually visit Iowa some day. Currently they don't recognize any out of State permits, so this will be a wonderful change! I've heard that Iowa is a nice place to visit, if you didn't mind giving up your right to defend yourself and your family while visiting. That problem will be gone starting in 2011.

Gene German has additional details.

Arizona CCW Friendly Restaurants

Since I last mentioned the ASRPA list of CCW friendly restaurants, two new lists are now available. A lot of progress is being made through cordial conversations with restaurant owners who had placed gun free zone signs by explaining the benefits of taking them down along with the drawbacks of leaving them up. As a result, the list of restaurants supporting our right to defend our families is steadily growing. My family & friends are going out of our way to support the businesses who are supporting our rights, and I request that you do as well. Checking the list of supporters is an excellent way to find new restaurants to try out. You never know, you may find new restaurants to add to your list of favorites, I know that we have. I'll continue to add to this list as I discover additional resources and databases.

CCW Friendly Restaurant Lists:

• Arizona State Rifle & Pistol Association
• Wilderness Tactical
• Gunburger Phoenix
• Gunburger Tucson

iPhone/iTouch App: Legal Heat

A nice addition to the online CCW travel tools that I've mentioned in the past is the new iPhone/iTouch application: Legal Heat. The Legal Heat application is a State by State CCW travel guide to Concealed Carry gun laws, including critical information such as prohibited areas & reciprocity.

I just placed the app on my iPhone today and it is rather handy to have at my fingertips. You can learn more about the app on iTunes, facebook, or the Legal Heat website.

Update: Now includes Open Carry Laws in addition to Concealed Carry Laws.

WA: Students Arm Themselves

After being attacked while defenseless some University of Washington students decided to get concealed carry permits and take responsibility for their own safety. I commend them for taking responsibility for their own safety, but I have a few safety tips for them:

1. I can't really recommend "walking around as bait, fishing for robbers," although if a thug is unlucky enough to attack a student prepared to defend him or herself, too bad for the thug, I'm not going to cry for him or her.
   
2. Don't sweep your friend (or anything else you'd prefer not to destroy) with the muzzle of your gun.
3. Buy a holster, stashing your gun in the front of your pants fails to protect the trigger & is not a secure way to carry it.

Map of Minimum Age to Carry Concealed, State by State

(See map in full size)

Has anyone ever wondered why we trust young adults 18 and older to get married, sign legal contracts, go to battle on behalf of our Country utilizing powerful weapons and tools such as helicopters, tanks, & rocket launchers, yet in all but 13 States we don't trust the very same young adults to defend themselves with a concealed handgun while conducting their business here at home? I have. I certainly would like my daughter to not be denied the right to fight off a rapist with a concealed weapon if she were to be attacked while walking home or to her car after her college class is dismissed or while she walks down any sidewalk.

Before I go on, can I just ask my friends in Missouri, TWENTY THREE? Really? Are you kidding me? OK, I just had to get that off my chest.

Don't even get me started on all of the so-called "Gun Free Zones" that our legislators have created in many of our States, but for anyone interested there is a map of States that attempt to create gun free zones at colleges (more at concealedcampus.org) as well as a map of States that attempt to create gun free zones in restaurants that happen to serve alcohol. I say "attempt to create" because there are no metal detectors or armed guards so the only folks disarmed in such target rich victim zones are the law abiding victims.

I mentioned my thoughts on the subject of the current minimum age to defend oneself with a concealed weapon here in Arizona to Senator Harper & he asked me how Arizona compares with the rest of our Country. I did a search on the Internet for such a map, and although I did find a map for minimum age to carry openly on opencarry.org, I didn't manage to find a map for minimum age to carry concealed. As a result I decided to make one myself by going through the details for all of the States on handgunlaw.us. Please take a look at your State to compare with my map & let me know if I've made any errors so that I can make any required corrections.

As far as future legislative changes I'd like to see made here in Arizona, I'd like to see the minimum age to defend oneself with a concealed weapon lowered to a minimum of 18, and I'd like to see defenseless victim school & restaurant zones go away altogether. I'd also like to see restaurant carry in Arizona expanded to include all law abiding citizens, not just those with a CCW permit. Arizona is currently the only State in the Union to require us to carry concealed while in such restaurants (although to be fair there are eight States that forbid open carry altogether, some of which do not forbid carry in restaurants). Last but not least, I'd LOVE to get Constitutional Carry here in Arizona.

To Summarize my map, one State, Missouri sets the minimum age at 23 years old to carry concealed, thirty-four States plus DC set the minimum age at 21, eleven States set the minimum age at 18, two States set the minimum age at 16, and two States forbid concealed carry altogether.

Minimum age to carry concealed:

• 23: MO
• 21: AL, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, KS, KY, LA, MA, MI, MN, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV
• 18: CA, DE, IA, IN, MD, ME, MT, ND, SD, VT, WY
• 16: AK, NH
• No concealed carry at all: IL, WI

Note: None of this information or map is to be construed as legal advice. You are responsible to verify the laws in your own State.

H/T to the Map Maker Utility, opencarry.org, & handgunlaw.us. Be sure to check out my link to travel tools useful when you need to plan your carry methods while traveling.

AZ: Which Restaurants Want our Dollars?

Like most people, my wife & I enjoy eating out from time to time. We personally don't even choose to drink alcohol, but there are many good restaurants in Arizona that happen to serve it to those who do. Starting September 30th 2009 the law in Arizona will no longer prohibit my wife & I from eating at restaurants that happen to serve alcohol while we carry concealed weapons for defense of ourselves & our family, so long as we don't drink.

Unfortunately some businesses are already making the decision that they don't want our dollars. That is their right as a business owner, as it will be ours to choose not to do business with them. About 138,000 active CCW Permit Holders in Arizona as of Sep 1st 2009 is nothing to sneeze at in this economy, and that doesn't even take into consideration the 2.5 Million Arizona residents who live in households that have at least one gun, many of whom are likely to support restaurants that support our rights irregardless of their own decision to not apply for a CCW permit for themselves.

The Arizona State Rifle & Pistol Association has created a web page to list Arizona businesses that have come out on one side or the other on this issue - either deciding to openly support the right to bear arms in self defense or deciding to ban our patronage. Businesses that ban entry to Conceal Carry permit holders carrying concealed will be advising criminals that they'll find easy targets inside the restaurant as well as walking about in the parking lot. The ASRPA has a PDF you can print out to share with the restaurants you wish to patronize. Restaurants can choose either to simply not ban our patronage or to go an extra step and have their logo listed as a self defense supporter on the ASRPA website to attract our business.

As required by the law, our weapons will remain concealed so patrons who are scared of guns will not even know we're there, the same way they don't know that we're sitting next to them in a Movie Theater or in an ice cream shop. The signs banning our patronage will begin shipping out later this week to the 100 or so restaurants that have already requested them. With about 5,900 bars & restaurants that serve alcohol in Arizona that will still leave us with 5,800 places we can patronize.

Thai Rama is the first restaurant to be listed as supporting our rights which as a result is now on my must visit list. As for those who don't want our dollars, the first to be listed are George & Dragon as well as Chipotle. Based on this article, I'm guessing the Chevraunt Restaurant & Wine Bar will soon be added to the list of restaurants who don't want our dollars as well. Be sure to contact these businesses with a friendly note or phone call to let them know your thoughts. If you know of other restaurants that should be added to one side or the other of the list send the details to ASRPA via: wewelcomeccw@asrpa.com

For any businesses thinking about creating their own gun free zone, please check out this video first:



Update 1: Other restaurants like Thai Rama that have indicated that they plan to respect our right to defend ourselves (based on reader feedback & the list - below listing is not comprehensive):
Black Angus, Olive Garden, NYPD Pizza, Parson's Restaurant, Dickey's Barbecue Pit, Babaloos, Eat at Joe's Barbecue, Maloney's, Santisi Brothers Sports Grill, Silver Spur Saloon, Chuy's Mesquite Broiler, & Valle Luna.

Update 2: More news on the subject: azcentral, azdailysun.

Update 3: Additional lists of CCW friendly restaurants are now available.

Thune-Vitter CCW Reciprocity Amendment to S. 1390

South Dakota Senator John Thune & Louisiana Senator David Vitter have offered a Thune-Vitter CCW Reciprocity Amendment to Defense Authorization bill S. 1390.

More from the NRA-ILA:

. . . Contrary to "states' rights" claims from opponents who usually favor sweeping federal gun control, the amendment is a legitimate exercise of Congress's constitutional power to protect the fundamental rights of citizens (including the right to keep and bear arms and the right of personal mobility). States would still have the authority to regulate the time, place and manner in which handguns are carried . . .

I see little difference between the Federal government requiring the States to recognize drivers licenses & requiring the States to recognize CCW permits with the exception of the fact that there is no fundamental right to drive a car.

Update 1: 7/21/09 - Illinois Senator Roland Burris spoke out against the CCW Reciprocity Amendment on the Senate Floor on the afternoon of July 21st. His argument was that it ignores the violence & illegal shootings going on in Chicago on a daily basis. I submit that it actually recognizes it. It is places like Chicago where law abiding citizens have all the more reason to arm themselves in defense of self & family. The criminals are already armed, so why should we continue to disarm the law abiding?

Update 2: 7/22/09 - Although the majority of the Senate voted in favor of the amendment, it failed to reach the procedural 60 vote minimum by a margin of 2 votes - it received a vote of 58 in favor vs. 39 against with 3 not voting - if only a couple of those not voting could have made a decision it could have passed. More from NRA-ILA.

Update 3: How did your Senator Vote?

Grouped By Vote Position

YEAs ---58:

• Alexander (R-TN)
• Barrasso (R-WY)
• Baucus (D-MT)
• Bayh (D-IN)
• Begich (D-AK)
• Bennet (D-CO)
• Bennett (R-UT)
• Bond (R-MO)
• Brownback (R-KS)
• Bunning (R-KY)
• Burr (R-NC)
• Casey (D-PA)
• Chambliss (R-GA)
• Coburn (R-OK)
• Cochran (R-MS)
• Collins (R-ME)
• Conrad (D-ND)
• Corker (R-TN)
• Cornyn (R-TX)
• Crapo (R-ID)
• DeMint (R-SC)
• Dorgan (D-ND)
• Ensign (R-NV)
• Enzi (R-WY)
• Feingold (D-WI)
• Graham (R-SC)
• Grassley (R-IA)
• Gregg (R-NH)
• Hagan (D-NC)
• Hatch (R-UT)
• Hutchison (R-TX)
• Inhofe (R-OK)
• Isakson (R-GA)
• Johanns (R-NE)
• Johnson (D-SD)
• Kyl (R-AZ)
• Landrieu (D-LA)
• Lincoln (D-AR)
• Martinez (R-FL)
• McCain (R-AZ)
• McConnell (R-KY)
• Murkowski (R-AK)
• Nelson (D-NE)
• Pryor (D-AR)
• Reid (D-NV)
• Risch (R-ID)
• Roberts (R-KS)
• Sessions (R-AL)
• Shelby (R-AL)
• Snowe (R-ME)
• Tester (D-MT)
• Thune (R-SD)
• Udall (D-CO)
• Udall (D-NM)
• Vitter (R-LA)
• Warner (D-VA)
• Webb (D-VA)
• Wicker (R-MS)

NAYs ---39:

• Akaka (D-HI)
• Bingaman (D-NM)
• Boxer (D-CA)
• Brown (D-OH)
• Burris (D-IL)
• Cantwell (D-WA)
• Cardin (D-MD)
• Carper (D-DE)
• Dodd (D-CT)
• Durbin (D-IL)
• Feinstein (D-CA)
• Franken (D-MN)
• Gillibrand (D-NY)
• Harkin (D-IA)
• Inouye (D-HI)
• Kaufman (D-DE)
• Kerry (D-MA)
• Klobuchar (D-MN)
• Kohl (D-WI)
• Lautenberg (D-NJ)
• Leahy (D-VT)
• Levin (D-MI)
• Lieberman (ID-CT)
• Lugar (R-IN)
• McCaskill (D-MO)
• Menendez (D-NJ)
• Merkley (D-OR)
• Murray (D-WA)
• Nelson (D-FL)
• Reed (D-RI)
• Rockefeller (D-WV)
• Sanders (I-VT)
• Schumer (D-NY)
• Shaheen (D-NH)
• Specter (D-PA)
• Stabenow (D-MI)
• Voinovich (R-OH)
• Whitehouse (D-RI)
• Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 3:

• Byrd (D-WV)
• Kennedy (D-MA)
• Mikulski (D-MD)

Allen Mueller: Illinoisans Deserve the Right to Self Defense

Mining Engineering graduate student Allen Mueller wrote an excellent guest column titled: Illinoisans Deserve the Right to Self Defense:

I was pleased to see coverage of the Family and Personal Protection Act, and would like to clear up some misinformation that routinely appears when discussing the topic of concealed carry.

SIUC Police director Todd Sigler said it’s one thing to shoot at a paper target. "It’s another to make judgment calls of life and death, and it’s hard to say how people are going to respond," Sigler said.

In a classroom shooting situation, it’s pretty easy to tell who a psychopath is. If someone is in your classroom methodically executing every single person he walks by, then maybe he’s the one who should be put down. Other campus crimes aren’t too difficult to identify either. If a female is being forced to the ground and having her clothes ripped off, it’s pretty easy for her to tell who the rapist is . . .

It’s strange the way Illinois works. Off-duty police can carry firearms to protect themselves, celebrities and political figures have armed bodyguards, and bank guards can carry firearms to protect their cash. Are the lives of “regular” citizens in Illinois not as valuable as police officers, politicians, or money?

Mueller is a graduate student in mining engineering.

Check out the full article.

Update 1: More on this topic from USA Today & WorldNetDaily.

OR: HB 2463 - Reciprocity Bill in Oregon

Oregon is considering HB 2463 which if enacted would finally grant CCW reciprocity to visitors from other States. Currently Oregon has zero reciprocity, so if passed, this bill would be a giant leap in the right direction. Naturally Constitutional Carry would be the ultimate goal, but reciprocity would be a fine intermediary step.

Update 1: Unfortunately, HB 2463 was the victim of an amendment after which it died in committee. Hopefully they'll have better luck in 2010. Until this issue gets corrected Oregon will continue to loose my business as I drive the longer drive through Northern Idaho on my way to Washington to stay the heck out of Oregon.

AZ: Concealed Carry on Campus HB 2607

HB 2607 if enacted would prohibit Arizona Educational Governing Boards from prohibiting the carry of concealed weapons by adults who have valid CCW permits. Full text of bill here. Look for the changes to existing law in blue text. Be sure to contact your representatives to ask for their support. I have not yet talked to SCCC or the ASU chapter of SCCC, but I imagine they will probably come out in support of this bill as a good first step. I have contacted them & will update this post with what I hear back.

More from AZCDL:

HB 2607, the AzCDL-requested Campus Carry bill, was filed on Monday, February 9, 2009, the last day for bills to be filed this session. HB 2607 removes the authority of a governing board to prohibit a person who possesses a CCW permit from carrying a concealed firearm on the property of an educational institution (i.e., College or University).

It was touch-and-go for awhile. This legislation was drafted and sponsorship was obtained, but the bill was not filed by the Senate deadline. To keep the bill alive, Dave Kopp and John Wentling, AzCDL's president and vice-president, successfully lobbied for Campus Carry to be filed in the House before the House deadline.

All AzCDL-requested bills for this session have now been filed (Constitutional Carry, Defensive Display, Campus Carry, and CCW Reform). Plus there are a number of other pro-rights bills we are supporting. As they begin to move through the legislative process we will notify you via these Alerts. Stay tuned.

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

Copyright © 2009 Arizona Citizens Defense League, Inc., all rights reserved.

GA: CCW Permit Applications up 79% in 2008

CCW applications in Georgia went up 79% in 2008 over 2007:

Across Georgia, there’s been a dramatic surge in applications . . . and no sign that the trend is slowing. Statewide, 121,219 applications were submitted in 2008, up 79.2 percent from 67,640 in 2007, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

In Arizona as of Jan 2 2009 there were 117,684 active CCW permits. Back in Nov 2006 there were about 84,000 active CCW permits. That represents roughly a 40% increase in active Arizona CCW permits as of now when compared to a couple of years ago.

Similar reports have been coming in from many other parts of the Country, including Colorado, Omaha, North Carolina, Michigan, and Washington to name just a few. I'm glad to see that more Americans are deciding to prepare for the defense of themselves & their families while in locations away from their own home. An armed society is a polite society - have you ever heard of an armed robbery at a gun show? Neither have I. A criminal would have to be 100% insane to try something like armed robbery while surrounded by so many armed Americans.

AZ: SB 1243 Defensive Display & HB 2439 Alternative 3 Hr CCW Course

From AZCDL:

Two more AzCDL-requested bills have been filed.

SB 1243, clarifying when "Defensive Display" is justified, 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.

HB 2439, with 22 co-sponsors, provides for an alternative 3 hour CCW course, dealing only in legal issues, for qualified individuals who can show proof of prior firearms training, such as:

• Completion of an NRA pistol course.
• Completion of pistol related courses at the college level, or at places like Front Sight or Gunsite.
• Completion of certain law enforcement training.
• Current military service or an honorable discharge.
• A competitive rating or ranking in an organized shooting competition.
• A CCW permit from another jurisdiction that required training or testing to obtain.

Even though the legislative session got underway on January 12th, the budget has become the center of focus at the Capitol, significantly slowing the filing and movement of non-budget related bills. We encourage you keep an eye on AzCDL's Legislative page for updates on legislation we are watching: http://www.azcdl.org/html/2009_bills.html .

Stay tuned! When critical legislation comes before committees, we will notify you via these Alerts.

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

Copyright © 2009 Arizona Citizens Defense League, Inc., all rights reserved.

AZ: Constitutional Carry SB 1270

SB 1270 is an Arizona constitutional carry bill that has been introduced in the Senate. It essentially would remove the current requirement to have a CCW permit when carrying a concealed weapon unless you're a prohibited possessor or are in the process of committing a serious criminal offense as defined in 13-706 or a violent crime as defined in 13-901.03. It would also remove the current problem of people being cited for concealed carry without a permit when open carrying in their car. Open Carry would of course remain as is, no requirement for any permit either.

It would still allow people to get a CCW permit if they choose to in order to gain certain additional benefits such as reciprocity granted by other States that don't yet have constitutional carry laws, or to carry in current restricted areas under specific conditions, such as to carry onto school grounds while dropping off or picking up a child. It would of course be optimal to remove all existing restrictions on bearing arms anyplace we are legally allowed to be, but that would likely be too large of a first step in our legislature as it would face strong opposition.

Alaska & Vermont already respect constitutional carry. Hopefully more & more states will continue with this trend of removing infringements on our right to keep & bear arms.

An easy way to contact your representatives to let them know you support this bill is through this NRA sponsored gateway.

Below is an update from AZCDL about the bill:

SB 1270, an AzCDL-requested bill that removes the penalty for law-abiding citizens carrying concealed weapons without a permit, was filed late afternoon on Tuesday, January 27, 2009. You can read the text of SB 1270 at http://tinyurl.com/dko6oy .

Dave Kopp and John Wentling, AzCDL's president and vice-president, and full-time volunteer lobbyists, worked hard lobbying for SB 1270 and encouraging legislators to sign on as co-sponsors. The following twenty-two (22) legislators are the co-sponsors of SB 1270:

Senator Sylvia Allen, District 5, sallen@azleg.gov, (602) 926-5219
Senator Ron Gould, District 3, rgould@azleg.gov, (602) 926-4138
Senator Chuck Gray, District 19, cgray@azleg.gov, (602) 926-5288 (Senate Majority Leader)
Senator Linda Gray, District 10, lgray@azleg.gov, (602) 926-3376
Senator John Nelson, District 12, jnelson@azleg.gov, (602) 926-5872
Senator Russell Pearce, District 18, rpearce@azleg.gov, (602) 926-5760
Senator Thayer Verschoor, District 22, tverschoor@azleg.gov, (602) 926-4136 (Senate President Pro Tempore)
Representative Frank Antenori, District 30, fantenori@azleg.gov, (602) 926-5683
Representative Cecil B. Ash, District 18, cash@azleg.gov, (602) 926-3160
Representative Ray Barnes, District 7, rbarnes@azleg.gov, (602) 926-3107
Representative Andy Biggs, District 22, rbiggs@azleg.gov, (602) 926-4371
Representative Judy M. Burges, District 4, jburges@azleg.gov, (602) 926-5861
Representative Sam Crump, District 6, scrump@azleg.gov, (602) 926-3014
Representative David Gowan, District 30, dgowan@azleg.gov, (602) 926-3312
Representative John Kavanagh, District 8, jkavanagh@azleg.gov, (602) 926-5170
Representative Barbara McGuire, District 23, bmcguire@azleg.gov, (602) 926-3012
Representative Nancy McLain, District 3, nmclain@azleg.gov, (602) 926-5051
Representative Steve B. Montenegro, District 12, smontenegro@azleg.gov, (602) 926-5955
Representative Rick Murphy, District 9, rmurphy@azleg.gov, (602) 926-3255
Representative Warde V. Nichols, District 21, wnichols@azleg.gov, (602) 926-5168
Representative Doug Quelland, District 10, dquelland@azleg.gov, (602) 926-3024
Representative Carl Seel, District 6, cseel@azleg.gov, (602) 926-3018

If your Senator or Representative is one of the co-sponsors, please take the time to send them an email or call them and thank them for co-sponsoring SB 1270. It's critical that they know you are aware of, and appreciate, their support of SB 1270. You can find your legislators at: http://www.azleg.gov/alisStaticPages/HowToContactMember.asp .

If your Senator or Representative is NOT a co-sponsor, please call them or send them an email asking them why they did not co-sponsor SB 1270. Politely mention that you expect them to support SB 1270 in the future. You can find your legislators at: http://www.azleg.gov/alisStaticPages/HowToContactMember.asp .

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
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Copyright © 2009 Arizona Citizens Defense League, Inc., all rights reserved.

Update 1: Unfortunately this bill didn't make it through the full legislative process this year before the session was over due to the lack of time after the budget was finally passed, although several other important bills did manage to make it. This bill will be a top priority in 2010.

Update 2: SB 1102 & HB 2347 have been introduced for 2010. Contact your representatives!

Update 3: Governor Brewer signed Constitutional Carry (SB 1108) into law on April 16 2010!

Rep. Cliff Stearns: Concealed Carry Permits Are Life Savers

Florida District 6 US House Representative Cliff Stearns wrote an excellent piece titled Concealed Carry Permits Are Life Savers:

. . . Allowing law-abiding people to arm themselves offers more than piece of mind for those individuals -- it pays off for everybody through lower crime rates. Statistics from the FBI’s Uniformed Crime Report of 2007 show that states with right-to-carry laws have a 30% lower homicide rate, 46% lower robbery, and 12% lower aggravated assault rate and a 22% lower overall violent crime rate than do states without such laws. That is why more and more states have passed right-to-carry laws over the past decade . . .

In a related story, Julie Parker, 33 who shot an employee of Texas Components with an arrow was held off by a couple of CCW permit holders (also employees) until police arrived:

. . . Witnesses said other employees of the business pulled out their own pistols and held the woman at bay until police arrived . . .

Yet more evidence that when seconds count, the Police are minutes away. I have not seen any report on how many arrows she was carrying with her. Who knows how many lives these two concerned citizens saved by being prepared & choosing to act at a critical time. They may have saved one or even dozens of lives. Luckily we'll never know since she was stopped before we could find out.