As a result of the continuing outstanding efforts of the Arizona Citizens Defense League (AZCDL), there have been a number of changes and additions to the laws relating to either obtaining or renewing an AZ CCW Permit.

SB 1070

In Senate Bill 1070, signed by Governor Napolitano on June 10, 2008, the law regarding CCW renewal was clarified. Anyone that can provide adequate documentation can renew an expired permit or obtain a new permit if their original training occurred within the past 5 years.

The impact of this bill is that if you allow your permit to expire or have passed a CCW training class in the past five years but never applied for your CCW permit, by providing proof that you have attended training within the past five years along with your application, you can apply for an AZ CCW permit.

This effectively extends the training certificate’s window from the current one year to a full five years.

HB 2634

In House Bill 2634, a long standing issue regarding the issuance of permits to applicants with prior felony convictions has been clarified.

This bill, signed on June 10, 2008, clarifies that any person who has had a prior felony conviction, but whose conviction has been expunged or a person who has been convicted of a felony but has had their civil rights, including their right to own a firearm, restored by the court may obtain an Arizona CCW permit, assuming they satisfy the normal requirements for that permit.

This is a major change as prior to this law, DPS prohibited the issuance of an AZ CCW permit to any convicted felon, regardless of their status. This clarification in the law overrides the DPS administrative rules on issuance of permits to former convicted felons.

HB 2486

House Bill 2486 adds undocumented aliens to the list of prohibited possessors for the purpose of either purchasing a handgun or obtaining and Arizona CCW permit.

There is effectively no major change here as legal US residency was always a requirement for an Arizona CCW permit.

However, clarification of the law, makes clear that undocumented aliens are prohibited possessors, which could result in criminal penalties for anyone selling a firearm to an undocumented alien or for enhanced criminal penalties for any undocumented alien committing a crime involving the use of a firearm.

HB 2574

In House Bill 2574, signed on April 28, 2008, the law has been changed regarding the penalty for carrying a weapon in an airport, beyond the security cordon checkpoint. This crime is now a Class 1 Misdemeanor.

Bills that didn’t make it through

There were a number of other pieces of legislation pending, with most of them dying in committee. These bills were never acted on and will probably be reintroduced in future legislative sessions.

HB 2536 called the “Parking Lot Law” by some, would have provided that public and private employers cannot prohibit a person from transporting or storing a firearm in a locked vehicle in a parking area (subject to certain exceptions).

SB 1214 proposed changes to ARS 13-3102 to allow adults with Arizona Concealed Weapons permits (AZ CCW) to carry concealed firearms on school campuses, including colleges and universities. Federal law (18USC section 922(q)(2)(B)(ii) already allows CCW permit holders to possess firearms on school property.

SB 1400 proposed changes to establish liability for any ‘gun free zones’ established by a government entity. It would make them liable for damages resulting from criminal conduct if an individual could have used a firearm in self defense.

If you support passage of any of these pieces of proposed legislation, call or email your Arizona Senate or House member and let them know you’d like to support them and would like to see them reintroduced in the next legislative session.