Drizzt
Member
The Associated Press State & Local Wire
March 19, 2003, Wednesday, BC cycle
SECTION: State and Regional
LENGTH: 204 words
HEADLINE: Panel votes to allow visitors with permits to carry concealed weapons
DATELINE: PHOENIX
BODY:
A state Senate committee approved legislation Wednesday to allow gun owners visiting Arizona to carry concealed weapons if they have a permit from their home state.
Current law doesn't allow such reciprocity unless the other state matches or exceeds Arizona's training requirements for getting a permit. Arizona recognizes permits from a handful of other states.
A similar reciprocity bill was vetoed in 2001 by then-Gov. Jane Hull, who believed it would undermine the state's concealed weapons program.
Arizona requires a permit-holder to complete 16 hours of training in gun safety and the legal issues of using deadly force.
Supporters say law-abiding permit-holders from other states ought to be able to carry guns in Arizona.
Police had opposed the reciprocity bill (HB2353) because they said they don't have access to records in some states that would say whether a permit was revoked.
But a change approved Wednesday by the Senate Judiciary Committee would allow reciprocity in cases where police from other states can verify a person's permit within 24 hours.
It also would require people who apply for permits to submit to a criminal background check and complete a firearms safety program.
March 19, 2003, Wednesday, BC cycle
SECTION: State and Regional
LENGTH: 204 words
HEADLINE: Panel votes to allow visitors with permits to carry concealed weapons
DATELINE: PHOENIX
BODY:
A state Senate committee approved legislation Wednesday to allow gun owners visiting Arizona to carry concealed weapons if they have a permit from their home state.
Current law doesn't allow such reciprocity unless the other state matches or exceeds Arizona's training requirements for getting a permit. Arizona recognizes permits from a handful of other states.
A similar reciprocity bill was vetoed in 2001 by then-Gov. Jane Hull, who believed it would undermine the state's concealed weapons program.
Arizona requires a permit-holder to complete 16 hours of training in gun safety and the legal issues of using deadly force.
Supporters say law-abiding permit-holders from other states ought to be able to carry guns in Arizona.
Police had opposed the reciprocity bill (HB2353) because they said they don't have access to records in some states that would say whether a permit was revoked.
But a change approved Wednesday by the Senate Judiciary Committee would allow reciprocity in cases where police from other states can verify a person's permit within 24 hours.
It also would require people who apply for permits to submit to a criminal background check and complete a firearms safety program.