Arizona bill would allow guns in schools, anywhere

[paineinthearse]

SHOTGUNS AT SHOW AND TELL? Don't like the idea of hand grenades in elementary schools? Then stay out of Arizona. Yesterday, the Arizona House of Representatives voted for a firearm free-for-all, passing a bill which will 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 legislation was the brainchild of Rep. Doug Quelland (R-Phoenix). The problem? Quelland never actually read the legislation before pulling together support to get it passed. In an interview, Quelland 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."

http://www.dailystar.com/dailystar/dailystar/63738.php

Bill would allow guns in schools, anywhere
Concealed-weapons measure gets preliminary House OK

By Howard Fischer

PHOENIX - 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.

<snip>

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.

<snip>

This bill was one of two gun-related measures that gained House support on Tuesday. A second allows anyone who gets a permit to carry a concealed weapon to keep that permission for life. Gone would be the requirement to renew the license every four years, undergo a new background check and attend a firearms refresher course. HB 2325 also would cut the required hours of initial training to get a permit in half, to eight hours. The votes come as another measure making its way through the legislative process would repeal laws that preclude someone from having a firearm where alcohol is served. SB 1363, awaiting Senate debate, would permit guns if the bar or restaurant owner does not post a written notice, and if the patron promises not to imbibe.

[paineinthearse]

1. Update: Legislator drops bill with gun protections

http://www.dailystar.com/dailystar/printDS/63738.php

Update: Legislator drops bill with gun protections

PHOENIX - A legislator said Wednesday he killed his own bill on weapons misconduct, saying it went too far by providing broad exemptions that could bar state prosecution of people carrying guns into schools and other prohibited sites for protection.

Rep. Doug Quelland, R-Phoenix, pronounced his bill (HB2666) dead one day after it received preliminary approval by the House. "I'm trying to save as much face as possible," Quelland said as he explained to reporters his decision to stop consideration of the bill.

Quelland said he'd wanted to provide protections for people legally carrying concealed guns in situations where they inadvertently took guns into prohibited areas without any malicious intent. Quelland acknowledged that his bill went much further than the crime bill he intended. "It's become a gun bill," he said.

[autorank]

2. AZ is a trip!

When I was there for a "mental health" conference about three years ago, there was a debate at the Phoenix City Council on a resolution that allowed minors to carry concealed weapons if they had a note from their parents allowing them to do so (this was the current law). One faction argued for "regulation", i.e., current law. The other argued that no note should be required and that parental consent could be verified by police calling the parents. Holy shit! Batman. This is a bit much for even me. The state also had a resolution before the state legislature invoking automatic cessation from the Union if congress ever passed a bill requiring gun registration. A Democratic member of the Senate said that this bill was proof and strong support for his bill increasing mental health funding for AZ by 25%. It is kind of funny when you think about it...I mean, these people are whacked out.

[paineinthearse]

3. this guy deserves CONSERVATIVE IDIOT OF THE WEEK.

3 Things amaze me.

1. How someone could be so stupid as to agree to sponsor legislation without reading it.

2. Why this bozo did not have his staff or party council read it.

3. How it could be voted on the floor without a committee hearing.

Can anyone from Arizona explain this?

And Earl, if you are reading, this guy deserves CONSERVATIVE IDIOT OF THE WEEK.

[gander2112]

4. Can't explain, but...

if you lived here you would not be surprised.

The far greater tragedy is the Prop 200 that targets the illegal entrants.

Weird place that I live, but I still love it here.

Geoff

[blondeatlast]

7. Precisely. I have relatives (all dyed in the wool yellow dogs) who ask

me how I tolerate the place.

I have no answer for them, really, but I have no desire to go elsewhere. I love it here.

But damn, I'm so effing tired of the legislature making us a laughingstock.

Welcome to DU--have you seen the AZ forum?

[Toots]

6. His staff is probably who wrote the bill

Most Senators and Representatives don't read bills before signing them. I would be willing to bet not a single congressman read the Patriot Act before signing. That is a simple fact most people just don't understand. Congressmen are just "too busy" to read all that stuff. They have staff that does that and then tells them what is in it. When a Congressman writes a bill do you think they actually write the damn thing. Their staff does that and believe me the "staff" sometimes throws in real zingers that catch everyone off guard. Staff members have tremendous power. They usually stay on after their congressperson leaves and get on with another congress critter so they build up a form of seniority. Old time staffers are looked upon as some sort of God by most new Congressmen and new staffers. Kind of like the old Sgt. Major. Young Lieutenants jump when the Sgt Major barks.

[blondeatlast]

8. With all due respect, pain, I still think Jim Gibbons of Nevada,

who gave the PLAGIARIZED rant against "birkenstockwearing, Hollywood liberals should be used as human shields in Iraq" noses him out.

But only by a nose.

[blondeatlast]

5. Don't get me started on our state legislature. Apparently the rule

for winning elelctions is that you must be certifiable.

I love the state, I think it's beautiful, Phoenix is a wonderful city (I work for the CoP, but that's not why I say that) but the culture here is absolutely wacky.

Quelland has NO excuse for this. Thank God my SL is literate and has a brain, even if certifiably Repugnant.