Here is an article link from the Tucson, Az. paper:

Concealed guns for all close to being legal

Basically, no permit required, if signed into law.

"Vermont carry" has worked there and in Alaska.
No reason it won't work elsewhere.

I don't see why not. We already have OPEN carry legal...so why not go for the whole thing?

I am not sure how I feel about this. Granted I think everyone has the right to carry but I also think there needs to be some controls on it as well.

If I run across a person carrying, I want to be assured they are not a felon or a gangbanger. If they have been through a background check, then there is some safety in place. Many of the handgun training sessions in states requiring such are jokes so training is not that big of a deal.

But allowing anyone to carry concealed could open up a lot of cases that is best left alone. I would love to see how Vermont has handled their concealed carry over the years and if there has been any legal problems.

I think all law abiding citizens should be able to legally carry a handgun in defense of themselves or their family....
thugs, highwaymen and gangsters don't obey the law anyway...they don't fear a gun charge....only law abiding citizens fear a felony....
focus on the thugs, let the taxpayers walk...armed...

Those guys don't usually apply for permits.

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

This is the problem. If it does not require a permit and everyone can carry, how do you know someone is legally able to carry? It would be like someone being able to ride a bicycle where, no license required.

With such a law, it eliminates permits. Anyone over 21 can carry. Not sure about AZ but LA has so many felons carrying now that the jails cannot hold them when charged.

As I understand from a non gun owner in Vermont, there is no requirement for a permit. Just carry.

Am I misunderstanding the law as written?

It looks like this change in the law is going to go through and I have mixed emotions. I live in Arizona and have my CCW. The most valuable part of the CCW permit process was the in depth study of applicable law regarding the use of deadly force. If this law passes and everyone and his dog can carry concealed how many do you think will have a clue what constitutes the legal, much less appropriate use of deadly force? We have nut jobs calling 911 because the fast food joint got there order wrong for Pete's sake. Will these idiots pull a piece to get a bigger order of fries? There are very few circumstances where one can legally justify pulling a weapon much less using it. The range qualification was a joke but anyone who carries legally, with or without a permit and hasn't trained and practiced is an idiot and likely to cause major problems. I fear that many who will now opt to carry concealed will fall into this category and the negative consequences will only hurt responsible gun owners. Can you say "Backlash?"

I will probably get flamed but I think carrying concealed should be a privilege, much like driving. You should be required to demonstrate the requisite knowledge and skill before earning that privilege. Would you want someone who has never driven a car merging onto the interstate next to you at 70 MPH? The CCW permit process has worked well here and in most other states for decades. If you want a permit and are qualified it is little more than a single day out of your life, a few forms and the inevitable fee. Not only did I not mind going through the process, I enjoyed it and learned a great deal of very valuable information as a result.

I don't live in Arizona, but I find myself agreeing with those who'd like to see permits continue on a shall issue basis. Those who think everyone who goes through a class are totally convinced of what they're told about legality, are dreaming.

When Virginia went to "shall issue", I lost an average of 10% of classes for some time because they were convinced their concepts of use of force were lawful. When I say 'lost', I mean they walked out because I continued to insist that their long held personal beliefs about the use of force were unlawful and would land them in jail. Apparently, an appleate decision ~100 years ago that you can't shoot someone just for being in your house was more than they could bear.

I expect that many of those worried about the inability to arrest for carrying without permit will realize that many of those who do are barred from posession of firearms for other reasons.

Of course not, they have the "occupational exemption" clause to fall back on.

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matt

Sheriff, let me ask you this as an elected officer of the county and a LEO, how would you feel if everyone in your state were carrying concealed. No permit, no background check, no training or such, just strap on and leave the house. Your deputies would be stopping people with more than a 50/50 chance could be armed. These people could have warrants, being sought for felonies and other reasons that may have them willing to risk a shootout. Yes, that happens now but with everyone armed, it would be more of a possiblity.

The new law does not require any permit, training or such. Everyone can go armed. Are you sure you would want that in AL or any other state?

oldman, I think you need to step back from the trees and see the forest. If they are willing to engage in a shootout with the police, why would they care whether it was legal to carry or not? Here's the answer, THEY DON'T! They're already carrying, illegally. Changing the law to recognize the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens has no impact on the behavior of the criminals.

I don't know the carry laws in Arizona but I was in Mesa in 1980 and decided to check out a nudie bar. By the time my eyes adjusted to the darkness I noticed almost everyone in the bar was packing heat, right after noticing all the dancers were wearing tape I think I only stayed for one drink.

We go through background checks in Texas to get our CCW. I considered it an honor to get my CCW because I am a good citizen. At least the LEOs know that if you can carry in Texas you are a good citizen. There are plenty in Texas that should never be allowed to carry because of their backgrounds.

Exactly. If people don't like it, the proper, legal way to restrict law abiding citizens from packing heat is to ammend the U.S. Constitution, not enact silly, unconstitutional laws. The move away from constitutional law lies at the center of many of the problems that face our nation today, and in all areas of life, not just firearms issues.

"A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed". Pretty self explanatory isn't it?

The second we as Americans trample the legal rights of other Americans with unconstitutional law, we have just diminished our own liberty. It's that thing Ben Franklin mentioned about trading liberty for security (those who do it deserve neither).

If no permits are required, will AZ still issue them to those who choose to apply for them? And, if AZ abandons issuing permits, how does that impact reciprocity with other jurisdictions?

Questions of reciprocity aside, I tend to like the idea of permits for CCW (the "Shall Issue" variety, of course)...I think the permit process helps cull out the irresponsible citizen, as witnessed by the very low rate of permit revocations.

I think the process also helps re-assure the non-gun owning public, who might otherwise be skeptical, if not outright opposed, to the idea of "just anybody" walking around with a concealed weapon.

I understand and appreciate the opposing view, however. I grew up in NYC, after all.

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Trust, but verify - R. Reagan

This whole Arizona gun thing’ isn’t going to do away with the permit. It would become ‘optional’ and I for one will still keep my permit up to date. There is more to this topic that makes sense, but that’s for another thread.

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Dan Ortego ~