Guns in (Arizona) public buildings moves closer to approval

[Newsjock]

Source: Arizona Daily Star

Calling it a right of self-defense, a Senate panel voted late Tuesday to allow hundreds of thousands of Arizonans to take their guns into public buildings.

HB 2320, approved by the Appropriations Committee on a 5-3 vote, would overturn existing laws making it a crime to ignore a “no weapons” sign on a building. Instead, anyone with a state-issued permit to carry a concealed weapon could remain armed.

... The same committee also approved a measure requiring Arizona to enter into compacts with other states agreeing not to enact any laws or regulations regulating the transfer of firearms that are more restrictive than federal laws.

... And the House, in separate action, approved HB 2527 and sent it to Gov. Doug Ducey, barring cities from enacting their own local regulations requiring background checks.

Read more: http://tucson.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/guns-in-public-buildings-moves-closer-to-approval/article_7403f45a-3eda-58c2-9d75-7bc539610ab0.html

[DemoTex]

1. Great. I just arrived in Tucson for Fire Season 2015.

Left SC, arrived AZ. Different time zones (but even that is Fox Uniform in AZ). But the same atavistic politics.

But, remember the Civil War. It started at Fort Sumter, SC. My state of residence. But how far west did that war go? Arizona.

Tucson flew the Confederate flag, believe it or not. The western-most battle of the US Civil War was fought at Picacho Peak, northwest of Tucson, between Confederate miscreants from Tucson and California Union sympathizers. The attitude is still here, just like SC. Just not as bad.


Sunset over Picacho Peak from Mt. Lemmon

[LittleGirl]

3. That's a great photo

I could see Picacho peak from my front yard when I lived in Tucson. That is a beautiful area of Arizona.

Unfortunately, the only people we met regularly were conservative racist assholes. We were there 2 yrs and it was a struggle some days to keep smiling.

[KT2000]

4. What a photo!

Stunning!

[Jchall2000]

2. This worries me.

One of the first times I've posted here, so I'll make it quick, I've lived in Phoenix/Glendale for my entire life, never have I seen anyone walk down the road armed with an Assault Rifle or shotgun, I truly hoped that sort of NRA-sponsored crap would stay in Texas/Other southern states, I truly hope that the more sane people here in Arizona, which, there are a vast majority of, look down on this list of bills, I know I do, even a Republican JROTC instructor I know, a retired Master Sergeant from the Air force, is heavily against open-carry of automatic/Semi-automatic weaponry.

[Duckhunter935]

7. Who is voting to carry "Automatic weapons" openly

That would be interesting as they are incredibly expensive and require many background checks. I think it is legal already in Arizona anyway if you have the money to get one. I think the law is about concealed carry and legal CCW holders that passed required training and background checks only, am I right?

[Paladin]

8. Beware the Gun Enthusiast Vocabulary Police, Jchall2000. (nt)

[Lurks Often]

10. Beware the people who can't discuss facts nt

[Paladin]

11. The last thing the pro-gun movement wants is a discussion of facts.

Hence the continuous emphasis on esoteric terminology, used to intimidate gun control advocates and stifle anything approaching an actual discussion of the gun problem in this country. You people aren't fooling near as many folks as you used to with this lame tactic; look for that trend to continue.

[hack89]

13. Ignorance in support of a good cause is still ignorance

one would think that after the disaster that was the first AWB that gun controllers would start paying attention to technical details so they don't get bamboozled again.

[Lurks Often]

17. LOL, this from a person who has appointed himself the purity police

and has decided that gunowners can't possibly be a Democrat or Progressive.

The facts, from the FBI and the DOJ, are that crime, of all types, including gun violence, have been trending down for the last 20 years DESPITE the increase in gun sales and DESPITE laws allowing CCW in more states.

[Paladin]

18. Let's get our terminology straight, OK?

As long as we're dealing in vocabulary: I happen to be a long-time gun owner, a Democrat, and a progressive, and I know there are plenty of individuals like me. On the other hand, when we talk about pro-gun militants, the Democratic/progressive population goes way down, and in a big Goddamned hurry. This twisting of the two gun groups, one large and based on ownership, the other relatively small and based on single-issue conservative ideology, is yet another technique that your side has used to muddy the waters. And like the Vocabulary Wars, it's not working nearly as well for you as it used to. Mere gun ownership doesn't predispose one to wish for a three-way with Ted Nugent and Wayne LaPierre. Better luck next time, Lurks Often.

[Lurks Often]

19. What is it with gun control extremists and sex?

None of you seem capable of discussing gun owners with out bringing sex into the conversation: "predispose one to wish for a three-way with Ted Nugent and Wayne LaPierre." EWWW, none of us needed that mental picture!

And as usual you ignored the part you can't refute, that crime is going down across the board, while CCW laws are being passed in almost every state.

[Paladin]

23. Sorry to offend your delicate sensibilities.

There's essentially (cover your eyes) fuck-all (OK, open them) in the way of credible evidence that the crime reduction numbers are related to the passage of CCW laws, right? And if crime rates are going down, there's less of a need for CCW, isn't there? Less of a need for the 24/7 paranoia and violent wishful thinking which has propelled the gun rights movement for decades, isn't there?

No need to attempt answers to those questions, Lurks Often. I've seen the responses from your side, and they never get any more convincing.

[Lurks Often]

24. I'm amused, not offended, besides it usually the sign of someone

unable to discuss an issue without getting all bent out of shape when the discussion doesn't go their way.

I didn't say that increased CCW was the cause of the continuing decline of crime rates, but equally more CCW laws doesn't seem to be resulting in more shootings, a favorite claim for those opposing CCW.

[Turbineguy]

5. It will save energy

by "encouraging" people to take care of their business on line.

[blkmusclmachine]

6. Bad!

[blackspade]

9. Stupid hypocrites.

What is the purpose of stupid as shit laws like this?

[cynzke]

12. Are They Going To Allow.....

Government employees to be armed too? Seems this patriotic lunacy is putting employees is harms way. Years ago, we were summoned to the local IRS office for an audit and my spouse brought his briefcase. When he put it on the agent's desk to retrieve some papers, the agent's face visibly turned white for a few seconds with a scared expression like "what's in the brief case, a gun?"

[hack89]

14. If they have a concealed carry permit then why not?

government employees are not special.

[wordpix]

21. will they allow in the state house? how absurd

[Aristus]

15. ...aaaaaaaaad...I move farther away from ever visiting Arizona again...

Too bad. A beautiful state wasted on ugly people...

[wordpix]

22. and I move farther away from moving there for same sentiment

[FairWinds]

16. We should all pack heat in court houses . .

and court rooms too - including federal ones.
Would make for more polite justice, right?
What's good for the goose . .

[wordpix]

20. gawd what an awful legislature - don't want AZ to have contracts w/other states

enacting more restrictive regs than fed'l on firearms? WTF? Talk about "small government" advocates getting involved where they shouldn't---with other states' laws.