http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/knau/local-knau-895346.mp3
Phoenix, AZ – Arizona law already allows all adults to have guns, as long as
they're visibile. Anyone who wants to put a weapon in a purse or
under a jacket has to get a state-issued permit. That requires a
background check as well as a one-day course on everything from
marksmanship to learning when using deadly force is legal. On
Thursday the House voted to repeal existing laws which make it
illegal for everyone else to have a concealed weapon. With the
measure already approved by the Senate, that sends the bill to
Gov. Jan Brewer. Gubernatorial press aide Paul Senseman dodged
the question of what she'll do with the bill.
(The governor hasn't made a final determination on that piece of
legislation. She'll be receiving it sometime next week. I expect
by the end of the week she'll have made a final decision on it.
But it is true that she has a very long and proven track record
of support for Second Amendment rights.)
Even if the law is changed, there may be reasons some people
still want to get a concealed weapon permit. One is that Arizona
laws which keep people from bringing their guns into bars and
restaurants where alcoholic beverages are served has an exception
for those with the state permits -- an exception that was signed
into law last year by Gov. Jan Brewer. For Arizona Public Radio
this is Howard Fischer.