Tucson, Arizona Friday, 24 January 2003
A proposal by a Mesa lawmaker could make it easier for out-of-state residents to carry concealed firearms than for those who live here.
Existing law allows any adult not convicted of a felony to carry a gun as long as it is visible. Those who want to put it in a purse or under a jacket must go through special training on the laws that apply to use of deadly force, submit to a background check and prove they can handle the firearm.
HB 2353 would require Arizona to let those permitted to carry a concealed weapon in their home states to do so here, no matter what those states' requirements. At least one state, Vermont, allows anyone to have a concealed firearm.
Rep. Chuck Gray, R-Mesa, said people visiting Arizona should have the right to protect themselves without fearing they will be arrested.