BY LINDA BENTLEY | MARCH 19, 2014
Misconduct involving weapons bill passes Senate
PHOENIX – On Monday, Senate Bill 1063, misconduct involving weapons; firearm storage, passed out of the Senate by a vote of 16 to 13 with Sen. Ed Ableser, D-Dist. 26, not voting.
For the bill to survive, however, it must be heard in a House committee before the Friday, March 21 deadline.
The bill, if passed into law, will amend A.R.S. §13-3102 of the criminal code to exempt a lawful firearm possessor who enters a public establishment or public event from being charged with misconduct involving weapons, a class 1 misdemeanor, if proper storage is not provided for the weapon.
The law already exempts persons at shooting ranges or attending shooting or hunting events or areas.
SB 1063 requires the operator or sponsor of a public establishment or public event to provide temporary and secure storage if it requests a person carrying a deadly weapon to remove the weapon. Storage is required to be readily accessible on entry into the establishment or event and the weapon must be immediately retrievable on exit.
The Arizona Citizens Defense League-requested bill will make “no firearms” signs on public buildings unenforceable unless weapons storage requirements are followed.
Voters may want to take note, Sen. Steve Pierce, R-Dist. 1, who, since redistricting, now represents citizens in Cave Creek, Carefree, Desert Hills, New River, Anthem, Black Canyon City as well as most of Yavapai County, voted no.
