Even more good legislative news of local interest

The Arizona Legislature has approved final passage of SB 1108, the "Constitutional Carry" bill.  If signed by Governor Jan Brewer as expected, this law would permit any law-abiding citizen who is not otherwise prohibited to carry a concealed firearm without a permit, thus satisfying the letter and spirit of both the U.S. and Arizona Constitutions.  Arizona would then become the third state to codify such a system, following in the footsteps of Vermont (which has never had a permit requirement, concealed or otherwise) and, more recently, Alaska.  (Neither of these politically diametrically-opposed states reports any major problems to date with their hands-off policies, by the way.)

Arizona residents would still be able to obtain a CCW permit for the following reasons, according to the Arizona Citizens Defense League:

"The concealed weapons (CCW) permit is NOT eliminated.  A CCW permit is still required for carrying a concealed weapon into restaurants that serve alcohol, when traveling to states that recognize Arizona's permit, and for streamlining firearms purchases."

Thanks once again must go to the Legislature for passing this bill with a large bipartisan majority, Governor Brewer for her hopefully forthcoming approval, and to AZCDL for its yeoman work in helping to coordinate voter support for the legislation.

Arizonans are truly fortunate to reside in a state that continually recognizes, respects and even regularly increases the freedoms of its residents, in stark contrast to the Nanny-state chains currently being placed around the necks of the peasantry by the U.S. Congress and our President.