Arizona: Legislation to Strengthen the Second Amendment Rights of Individuals on Public Property Advances for House Floor Vote

On February 15, House Bill 2729 was given a “do pass” recommendation in the House Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee (MAPS) by a 6 to 2 vote. HB 2729, sponsored by state Representative David Gowan (R-30), among other things, amends various sections of the Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S) to remove the current prohibition on entering a public establishment or attending any public event while carrying a deadly weapon on one’s person, and instead provides for regulation of firearms and ammunition on public property only if specific criteria are met.

In removing the public establishment prohibition, HB 2729 would strengthen recognition of Second Amendment rights by allowing the state, a state agency, or political subdivision of the state to enact ordinances or rules in accordance with state law that limit or prohibit the possession of firearms on public property only if the following criteria are met:

• The public property is a secure facility;
• Access is controlled or restricted to the general public by the presence of either a state or federal certified law enforcement officer OR an armed security officer and metal detection, x-ray, screening, or other weapon detection equipment;
• There are signs prohibiting the possession of firearms clearly posted at all public entrances;
• Secure firearms lockers are provided within reasonable proximity to the main public entrance, are under control of the operator of the property, and allow for immediate retrieval of the firearm upon exiting.

HB 2729 makes a number of other significant positive changes for gun owners. These include a prohibition on the state or any agency from enacting firearms regulations that are more prohibitive than or that have a greater penalty than current state law, a clarification that a prevents a political subdivision from prohibiting the lawful transportation or storage of firearms, and a provision to allow a person to institute legal action against the operator of public property if the requirements set forth are not complied with.

Please call and e-mail your state Representative TODAY and urge his or her support of HB 2729! Contact information for your state Representative can be found by clicking here.