Arizona Legislature Takes The Lead In Backing Self-Defense

ammoland.com ^ | 5 July, 2009 | na

[marktwain]

National Rifle Association Arizona - -(AmmoLand.com)- The Arizona Senate passed three important self-defense bills in a session that lasted into the early morning hours Wednesday. First, SB 1113 enables law-abiding Right-to-Carry permit holders to carry firearms for self-defense in restaurants. This NRA-backed bill passed by an overwhelming, bi-partisan majority of 19-8 and will now be sent to Governor Jan Brewer’s (R) desk for her consideration.

“If this important, common-sense legislation is signed, Arizonans will have the ability to defend themselves and their families from criminal attack in restaurants,” said NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox. “Headlines remind us that restaurants are not immune to violent crime and we hope Arizona will join 40 other states that allow their law-abiding residents the opportunity to protect their own lives and the lives of those they love in restaurants.”

SB 1113, introduced by State Senator Jack Harper (R-4), would allow concealed carry permit holders to take concealed handguns into restaurants that serve alcohol, but would prohibit the permit holders from consuming any alcohol while carrying.

The legislature passed two additional important pro-gun bills expanding law-abiding citizens’ self-defense rights. Senator Russell Pearce (R-18) was the lead sponsor of these two measures:

•SB 1168, which would permit law-abiding individuals to store firearms in locked vehicles while parked on publicly accessible parking lots; •and SB 1243, which would clarify the statutory definition of defensive display of a firearm. “State Senators Jack Harper and Russell Pearce should be applauded for their efforts to pass these critical measures to allow honest, law-abiding Arizonans an opportunity to defend themselves” concluded Cox. “We are hopeful that Governor Brewer will sign these reasonable and sensible bills into law.”

[marktwain]

Most of the credit for the passage of these laws goes to the Arizona Citizen Defense League (AzCDL)

[jwparkerjr]

This whole thing of specifying where holders of permits can and can't carry their weapons is pure foolishness, plain and simple. Either a person is qualified to be armed or not, regardless of where they are. Providing would-be criminals with a law-enforced list of places they can hit without fear of running into an armed citizen seems to only make the situation worse.

Truth is the anti-gun people use this as just one more arrow in their quiver of ways to violate the 2nd amendment which says simply the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed, not that government has the power to infringe in a selective fashion.

[2harddrive]

Any citizen holding a valid CCW permit should be able to carry ANYWHERE the police can. Period. In fact, even non-license holders are ENTITLED to do so, under the US Constitution!

[Niteranger68]

My state (NC) prohibits those carrying concealed firearms from consuming alcohol AND from carrying into establishments that sell and serve alcohol. The first part is common sense, but the second part is nonsense.

[Caipirabob]

Any citizen holding a valid CCW permit should be able to carry ANYWHERE the police can. Period. In fact, even non-license holders are ENTITLED to do so, under the US Constitution!

I have to disagree. I believe the necessity of a CCW is an outright, tyrannical violation of the 2nd amendment.

[2harddrive]

I agree. That is why I included the SECOND sentence.

[Eagle Eye]

Any citizen holding a valid CCW permit not incarcerated or on parole should be able to carry ANYWHERE the police can. Period. In fact, even non-license holders are ENTITLED to do so, under the US Constitution!

There, fixed it for you.