Posted on 03/02/2005 3:46:40 PM PST by Crackingham
The House of Representatives voted Tuesday to let people carry weapons - including guns, grenades, rockets, mines and sawed-off shotguns - into schools, polling places and nuclear plants if they claim they're only trying to protect themselves.
The vote on the legislation came after Rep. Ben Miranda, D-Phoenix, pointed out it would bar prosecution of those who want to bring a weapon into the House or Senate. Despite that, lawmakers gave it preliminary approval on a 30-16 margin.
But what's in House Bill 2666 surprised even Rep. Doug Quelland, R-Phoenix, who introduced the legislation and shepherded it through the House. He said he had no idea the legislation, crafted by constituents he wouldn't identify, was so broad that it would provide a catchall exemption in the state's weapons laws.
Quelland said he wants to ensure that those who carry a concealed weapon without getting the required state permit do not wind up being charged with a crime.
He said that, if it were up to him, anyone would be able to carry a weapon in a pocket or purse or in a holster beneath a jacket without getting state permission. Quelland said only people who prey on others should be prosecuted under gun laws.
But he conceded that's not what his bill does.
Current statutes list a series of acts that are a crime. These range from carrying a concealed weapon without a permit and having a deadly weapon on school grounds, to possessing certain "prohibited weapons," which includes bombs, grenades and automatic rifles.
The restrictions do not apply to peace officers, members of the military, correctional officers and anyone specifically authorized under state and federal law to have these weapons.
HB 2666 would add a new exemption: any U.S. citizen "who carries a deadly weapon for personal protection or the protection of others." The exception also extends to those who are protecting "the state" as well as any home - whether or not the person lives there.
Some of the weapons that would be allowed under this legislation might still be banned under federal law. But Miranda warned his colleagues to consider what they are proposing.
"Even if the speaker (of the House) sent me a letter saying that I was not to carry a weapon into this House, I could do so," he said. Miranda said he could not be prosecuted "so long as I said I was there to protect myself from anyone."
And the problem with this is???????????????????
I'm not so happy about the nuclear plants.
So9
Sounds like Vermont and Alaska. All 50 states should have this.
"I'm not so happy about the nuclear plants. "
I am. Instead of 1 or 2 dopey guards, the entire workforce would be.
If only this could be nationally done.
Sir
Is that a rocket in your pocket?
Or are you just happy to see us...
Soory...it was just lying there, waiting to be said..
A law allowing citizens to legally carry heat where only criminals had before....... imagine that.
as I understand it, sawed off shotguns are illegal in the US without a permit from the US Treasury, which doesn't issue them... making it unlikely anybody will get to carry one.
I think all of the CCW permit states need to now start working on Vermont/Alaska carry -- a poster the other day mentioned Wyoming has already started, and I would like to see bills introduced in more state legislatures over the next year.
From your lips to God's ear.
"To let people carry????"
The Arizona Constitution calls it "right."
Section 26. 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.
Since when does a citizen have to ask the legislature to let them exert a right?
People have our rule of law so backwards.
The left actually believes that murders in shools are low only because it is against the law to bring a gun into school.
Finally. I'd like to be able to walk around Arizona with plenty of mines now. Maybe that will keep illegal immigrants from crossing the border.
I guess I'm in the monority here but I don't know if its a good idea to bring grenades, rockets, or shotguns into schools. I don't think anyone should bring that stuff into schools. Probably not even a handgun. Concealed weapons elsewhere: yes. But why grenades and rockets? And why in schools?
"I guess I'm in the monority here but I don't know if its a good idea to bring grenades, rockets, or shotguns into schools. I don't think anyone should bring that stuff into schools. Probably not even a handgun. Concealed weapons elsewhere: yes. But why grenades and rockets? And why in schools?"
I understand what you are saying, but I doubt that any sane law abiding citizen would be walking around a school, or any other public places for that matter, with grenades and rockets. So I wouldn"t worry about that all too much.
The teachers at Columbine might want to be able to bring handguns to school.
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