Arizona residents find freedom, protection under new gun law

[Nomad]

http://news.yahoo.co...ml6cmVzaWRlbnQ-

 

I dearly wish this was about Illinois. Maybe one day.

 

 

SEDONA, Ariz. -- Be careful who you mess with in Arizona because you never know who might be packing heat.

 

On July 29, a new concealed-carry weapons law took effect, granting Arizona residents the right to carry concealed weapons without a permit. Before the law was passed, Arizona residents were allowed to carry weapons as long as they were displayed in plain sight.

 

Arizona residents older than 21 who do not have criminal records can carry a concealed weapon almost anywhere, including shopping malls, movies and grocery stores. Only in establishments that serve alcohol are non-permitted carriers forbidden to wear concealed guns.

 

The law underscores the state's Wild West reputation, and one of Arizona's most notable law enforcement official defends the right to carry concealed arms.

 

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, known across the country as the "toughest sheriff in America" due to his strict enforcement of the law and no-nonsense treatment of criminals, believes the new law works just fine. He isn't concerned there will be more shootings in his state because of it.

 

"That's a good law," Arpaio said this week. "I support it. People were not shooting each other before the new law was passed when they had the right to open-carry weapons. What's the difference now? Concealed or not, people are not pulling guns out and shooting each other."

 

But he did say gun owners should be familiar with firearms before carrying. "I hope people get some training before carrying a weapon," Arpaio said. "People need to know how to use a gun."

 

The right to bear arms is staunchly defended by many in Arizona, even in the city of Sedona, known for its spirituality, natural beauty and liberal views.

 

Sedona resident Geraldine Shultz, a well-armed senior citizen and business owner in the community, has had a concealed-carry permit for years. She welcomes the new law: "It's the right of the world. We have to protect ourselves." She owns a shotgun and a .38 Police Special.

 

"I like the .38 Special," Shultz says. "My husband gave it to me. It's light, small enough to carry and effective."

 

Sedona resident and business owner Will Hamburg, 24, also had a concealed-carry permit before the new law was passed. A victim of an attempted robbery, he wasted no time getting his permit. He says he doesn't carry out of fear, but for simple precaution.

 

"Two gang members, one with a gun, tried to carjack me while I was pumping gas outside of Taos, N.M.," he says. "The day after that incident I bought a pistol."

 

Hamburg says he's never had to pull a gun, but believes his training would allow him to handle the situation should he have to.

 

"I do not carry because I am afraid of what is out there in the streets," he says. "I carry to know that in the event that something happens and someone needs to step up, I know I can. Think about it. If everyone knows that everyone is carrying a weapon, they are less likely to start any kind of confrontation because they know the chances of the other person carrying is very high. Even if the other person is not carrying, someone watching may be. It creates self-governance, in my opinion."

 

Sedona business owner Brian Wentzel, 32, does not have a carry permit nor intends to get one. For him, he only needs the Constitutional "God-given" right to arm and defend himself.

 

"People have a right to carry concealed weapons because our rights are given to us by our Creator and not by man," says Wentzel. "They are natural rights and this distinction between where our rights are derived is one of the most important philosophical questions a nation and its people must decide before they write laws."

 

He said that in America, citizens are born with the rights the founding fathers promulgated. Wentzel says an armed citizenry can only strengthen the nation, protect its principles and ensure tyranny could never take over.

 

"If you have an armed population in the last hour of tyranny, it will be the final check to the imbalance of power that has been misused and abused," says Wentzel. "That's why the founding fathers knew it was one of the pillars and one of the most important rights every citizen has to protect and defend themselves against the tyranny of their own government."

 

"Every tyrant in history has known you can't control an armed population. That is why Hitler, Stalin and Mao were strongly against an armed citizenry, while Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and John Adams were for it."

 

[Ashrak]

Music to my ears.

[Gary]

It says "Arizona Residents"!!! I wonder if that applies to residents of other states or only to residents of other states that have a CCW permit or what. If you are an illegal alien in Arizona but are also a long time resident, does this law apply to you since you are engaged in the crime of trespass? Hmmmm!! lol

 

Speaking of that. In many jurisdictions the charge of "Disturbing the Peace" is an old standby to charge people who are leagally carrying weapons or engaging in the exercise of their 1st Amendment rights so I am wondering why illegals and flag burners have not been charged with some law like this or perhaps "Having an Open Fire W/O a Permit" in the case of the flag thing. I sometimes think that we are not as creative as the left. lol

 

(Please realize that this post was made with my tongue firmly in my cheek. But don'cha wonder sometimes?)

 

BTW, I heard that in Florida that if the victim of an assault is hispanic at the hands of a caucasian the report lists the ethnicity as "Hispanic" but if a hispanic is the agressor then he is listed as caucasian regardless of the ethnic background of the victim. Do you think that could possibly be true?

[Bird76Mojo]

Brilliant.

 

 

[Silver Guardian]

On July 29, a new concealed-carry weapons law took effect, granting Arizona residents the right to carry concealed weapons without a permit. Before the law was passed, Arizona residents were allowed to carry weapons as long as they were displayed in plain sight.

 

That's not quite accurate. Statutorily what was done was removing the penalties for carrying concealed without a licence. So basically anyone 21+ can carry concealed, and it's always been the case that anyone 18+ can open carry. The only loose end that I know of is that to carry in an establishment that serves alcohol you must have a license, open carry is not allowed in this particular case. I went to Arizona the day after these new laws came into effect. I probably looked kinda silly having to stop at the entrance of Olive Garden and throwing on a Hawaiin shirt before opening the door.