According to this report from Arizona Capital Times, a House panel approved legislation that would make the state’s concealed weapons law “optional”. Contrary to what some sources are reporting, the proposed bill wouldn’t completely do away with the permits, it would make them a matter of choice. Critics argue, “What’s the difference?”
Currently, you must have a permit to carry a concealed weapon in the state of Arizona. Getting such a permit involves qualifying for the weapon and taking training. This is just one example of the many laws and rules controlling the ownership and use of firearms.
Advocates of the bill state that it gives citizens the power to protect themselves and is aligned with the 2nd Amendment rights of the Constitution. Critics say the bill is asking for trouble.
According to a Gun Shop owner, interviewed by KSWT, “If you know nobody’s armed therefore you attack. If you know everybody has a gun, you leave them alone.” This is a common statement of gun rights advocates, claiming that the right to carry a concealed weapon deters crime rather than encourages it.
Under the current laws, carrying a concealed weapon without a permit is considered Misconduct Involving Weapons, Class 1 misdemeanor. It is an offense punishable by up to 6 months in jail. The offense is a fairly common one in the Arizona criminal courts.
Misconduct Involving Weapons is the criminal charge term applied to most weapons offenses here. Whether you are accused of defacing a gun, carrying one onto school grounds, or possessing a firearm when you are considered a felon, you will face a charge that falls under this heading.
There are gun charges, like possessing a concealed weapon without a permit, that are misdemeanors and there are many more than are considered felonies. Depending on the charge against you, you could be facing several years in prison and the label of “convicted felon”.
If you are charged with a weapons offense, you need the assistance of a defense attorney, one that knows the local courtroom players and always changing Arizona gun laws. Contact me today for a consultation on your case and some insight into what you should do next.