No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.4.4/318 - Release Date: 4/18/2006 Big-City Mayors Conspire Against RKBA: Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg will host a summit next week for about a dozen of their colleagues to discuss gun violence, a problem that has long frustrated big-city mayors. Mayors from Dallas, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Washington, D.C., and Seattle are among those scheduled to attend the meeting at Gracie Mansion, the historic Upper East Side house where Bloomberg holds official events. http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/politics/14371844.htm --- Arizona House Passes Self-Defense Bill: SB 1145, the bill to reaffirm Arizona's castle doctrine and to shift the burden of proof back to the state in self-defense incidents, has been passed by the House. (I suspect this bill will be vetoed by Governor Napolitano, a former prosecutor.) http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=4786450 --- Georgia Grand Jury Clears Killer Of Carjacker: A man who chased and fatally shot a carjacker who kidnapped an Acworth woman last September was cleared Monday of any criminal charges. http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/cobb/stories/0417cobbgrandjury.html --- Where Are The Confiscated Guns?: John Longenecker shares his comments about the illegal confiscation of privately owned firearms in New Orleans and the difficulties in getting them back. http://mensnewsdaily.com/2006/04/18/the-purists-and-the-new-orleans-gun-confiscation/ --- Bringing Dogs To A Gunfight: An Ohio woman found a suicidal ex-boyfriend in her home with a shotgun. Her dogs were able to create the opportunity for her to grab the shotgun and shoot him, after he had declared his intent to kill her and himself. http://www.wcpo.com/news/2006/local/04/17/manshot_folo.html http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060418/NEWS01/604180380 --- Interesting Gun Collection: Authorities in California claim to have found more than 800 assault weapons, submachine guns, automatic rifles, explosive devices and other weapons hidden in the home of a retired Special Forces officer. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-guns19apr19,0,7401056,full.story?coll=la-home-headlines --- President Pardons Army Vet: President Bush has pardoned a 20-year Army veteran whose 50-year-old court-martial conviction came up when he sought to renew a firearm permit. http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/04/18/D8H2ND3O6.html --- GOA- Report From The Front Lines: Gun Owners of America reports on successes for the year to date. http://www.gunowners.org/a041806.htm --- From AzCDL: HB 2074 (concealed weapons; training requirement; renewal) was signed by the Governor on April 17, 2006: http://www.azleg.gov/DocumentsForBill.asp?Bill_Number=HB2074 HB 2074 eliminates the renewal training requirement for CCW permits. It was amended in the Senate to provide nearly universal recognition of out-of-state CCW permits. The bill as amended passed the Senate and House and was transmitted to the Governor on 4/12/06. HB 2074 will become law 90 days after the Legislative Session ends. AzCDL worked with the sponsor of HB 2074 prior to its introduction this legislative session. AzCDL was present at every hearing and, along with the NRA, tirelessly lobbied for passage of HB 2074. But, it was YOUR involvement and activism that turned HB 2074 into law. HB 2074 is just one of a number of bills that we are working on. And, it doesn't stop here. Legislators view AzCDL as a representative of Arizona gun owners. We'll be working on new bills for next session. To be even more effective, we need your help - as members of AzCDL. Please join us and make a difference! These alerts are a project of the Arizona Citizens Defense League (AzCDL), an all volunteer, non-profit, non-partisan grassroots organization. Join today! AzCDL - Protecting Your Freedom http://www.azcdl.org/html/join_us_.html The pressure you put on your Representatives paid off once again! On April 18, 2006, SB 1145 passed the House Third Read by a vote 41-15 (with 4 not voting): http://www.azleg.gov/DocumentsForBill.asp?Bill_Number=SB1145 SB 1145 (self-defense; home protection) restores the presumption of innocence in cases of self-defense. On February 13, 2006, amendments adopted by the Senate Judiciary Committee changed this "castle doctrine" bill into the most significant legislation ever introduced affecting anyone faced with a self-defense situation in Arizona. Present law, passed in 1997 without proper discussion or debate, places the burden of proof on the VICTIM in self-defense cases. You are now in effect guilty unless you can prove your own innocence. You must admit to the underlying criminal conduct, and then demonstrate that the guilt you admitted is false by proving you were justified to a jury - at your expense. It is a prosecutor's dream and the public's worst nightmare. A criminal now has better legal protection than a person who claims self-defense after an attack: http://tinyurl.com/bn5ks SB 1145 has an "emergency" provision that allows it to become law upon the signature of the Governor, providing both houses of the legislature pass the bill by a 2/3 vote. SB 1145 passed the Senate by a unanimous bipartisan (28-0) vote. On April 18, 2006 the House passed SB 1145 by better than a 2/3-majority vote of 41-15. To see how your Representatives voted go here: http://tinyurl.com/ll4um From here, SB 1145 will be sent back to the Senate for a concurrence vote on the amendments adopted by the House, and if approved by the Senate, will move on to the Governor's desk. We are expecting this to happen very rapidly and we are optimistic that the Governor will sign SB 1145 into law. We will keep you informed on the progress of this historic legislation. These alerts are a project of the Arizona Citizens Defense League (AzCDL), an all volunteer, non-profit, non-partisan grassroots organization. Join today! AzCDL - Protecting Your Freedom http://www.azcdl.org/html/join_us_.html From AZ DPS CWPU: I have received a large number of similar questions regarding the impact of the passage of HB 2074, so I will attempt to answer them here: 1) Does this mean permit holders do not have to take the renewal class to renew their permit? Once this law takes effect, it appears that permit holders are no longer required to take the 2-hour renewal class to renew their permit. Applicants will simply submit a renewal packet. 2) Does this mean that AZ permits are good forever? Are they "lifetime permits" now? No, permits must be renewed every five years (or four years for permits issued before August 12, 2005), but no 2-hour training class is required now. The current plan is that permit holders will obtain the renewal packet from existing CCW instructors or they may get them from DPS via mail (or in person). A fillable application on the website has been discussed as well. The applicant will mail the completed packet to DPS along with the appropriate fee and a fingerprint card (unless it is their 2nd or subsequent renewal, then no fingerprint card is required). Every renewal for at least the next four years or so requires a fingerprint card. 3) Will all other State's permits will be recognized here in AZ? If the permit and permit holder meet these conditions: 1. The permit or license is recognized as valid in the issuing state. 2. The permit or license holder is all of the following: (a) Not a resident of this state. (b) Legally present in this state. (c) Not legally prohibited from possessing a firearm in this state. This means all government (state, county, city) issued bonifide CCW permits will be recognized in AZ if held by a nonresident AND the permit is valid throughout the state of issue. AZ residents MUST carry concealed using an AZ permit - no other permits will be legal, even if there was a previously signed reciprocal agreement. The DPS will enter into new written agreements with states that require a written agreement. Bottom line: AZ residents cannot use another state's permit to carry concealed in AZ. 4) How will I know the date when 90 days after the current legislature has adjourned? The CWPU will announce the effective date via the website and newsletter. The State Legislature website will also publish this information. 5) Will there be a window or grace period when the new law takes effect (90 days prior to or 60 days after my current permit expires) so I don't have to take the training? We are studying this, however, renewal applications received prior to the date that the new law takes effect (to be determined) must demonstrate that the applicant completed the 2-hour renewal class. For applications received on or about the date the new law takes effect, that have expired and are in the 60 day window following expiration - the CWPU has not yet made a determination on this situation. 6) What else does HB 2074 do? HB 2074 does the following: It eliminates the 2-hour training requirement; It better protects all records on CCW permit holders and instructors; It creates "universal" recognition of all states' permits (conditionally); It eliminates confusing language pertaining to reciprocity/recognition; and makes a technical change related to LEOSA statutes. By creating universal recognition of permits, this will (presumably) add a number of new states that will recognize the AZ permit. 7) How did this bill come about? This bill (HB 2074) began as simply a means to eliminate the 2-hour renewal training requirement and to make a technical change to the statutes related to LEOSA (DPS did not support HB 2074). During the legislative session and while HB 2074 was in the State Senate, DPS introduced (to elements within the legislature) proposed changes to existing statutes that would create universal recognition of permits, eliminate existing reciprocity/recognition laws and add language that would better protect permit holder and instructor records. The DPS proposed changes were not intended to be included in HB 2074 but that is where they were ultimately introduced. (Text of bill deleted) Regards, Detective Russ Hamilton AZ DPS Concealed Weapon Permit Unit (602) 256-6280 (602) 223-2708 (800) 256-6280 (In Arizona only) (602) 223-2928 Fax www.azdps.gov/ccw/default.asp -- Stephen P. Wenger Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. http://www.spw-duf.info .