In a surprising move that no one expected last week, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer vetoed the proposed bill that would’ve allowed students and faculty to carry guns on the state’s college campuses. Brewer was expected to sign off on the bill but said it was sloppily written and she couldn’t put it through in good conscience.

We featured a story about this bill just last week when it was expected to be passed. But this week Brewer caught everyone off guard with her veto. “I thought it was a very rude veto letter” said Senator Ron Gould, the Republican sponsor of the bill.

But Brewer said the language wasn’t clear enough and she didn’t want to put lawful gun owners in a place where they may become unintentional law breakers. In specific, the bill allowed for guns on the public “right of way” on campus but didn’t explain what these right of ways included. Also, it said “educational institutions”, something Brewer said could be misconstrued to mean any school in the state.

Brewer is a staunch gun rights advocate which is why so many were surprised by her last minute veto. School administrators and other opponents had flooded the Governor’s office over the past weeks, with 904 calls, letters, and faxes in support of the measure and 951 against it according to the Arizona Republic.

Though opponents are celebrating the veto, there’s a chance that a changed version of the bill will once again make the rounds in the state Legislature.

Governor Brewer also vetoed the so called “birther bill” that would have required “proof” of citizenship for anyone on the state ballot running for President. For the moment, the Governor does not seem to be afraid of angering her most conservative supporters, who were behind both of these efforts.

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1. Arizona Lawmakers to Allow Guns on Campus Legislators passed a bill this week to allow firearms on...

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Legislators passed a bill this week to allow firearms on campus, though they had to tweak it slightly to ensure its passage. Now the legislation goes to Governor Brewer’s desk where she can sign it, veto it, or do nothing and simply allow it to become law.

According to the Arizona Republic, the bill would’ve initially allowed guns everywhere on campus, including even classrooms. But lawmakers changed this to ensure they had enough support to get the bill passed.

As it stands, the law will allow people to carry concealed and open carry weapons on roads and sidewalks of public campuses. Current laws allow Universities to determine for themselves if they will allow such carrying—none do.

During debate of the pending legislation, all three of Arizona’s public Universities have passed resolutions opposing it. Even campus police got involved, testifying against the law.

Though you might be tempted to think the bill passed on party lines, five Republicans voted against it, one who said she has always been proud of Arizona’s lenient gun laws calls the newly passed bill one that “crosses the line”.

Opponents of the measure are concerned about potential safety risks and tragedies. They point to the emotional highs and lows often experienced by the college population and question whether handing weapons to this population is wise.

But, the guns must be carried by registered gun owners who have usually undergone background checks. However, such safety measures haven’t always thwarted disaster.

Though that quoted lawmaker is correct that Arizona gun laws are often seen as more lenient than other states in the country, violating the ones that exist is a surefire way of testing them. The most common of these gun crimes is known as Misconduct Involving a Weapon.

Misconduct Involving a Weapon can be charged as a Class 1 misdemeanor if you are found carrying a concealed weapon without a permit. That charge can be elevated to a felony if the weapon in your possession is defaced in some manner.

Though students may one day soon be allowed to carry weapons on campus, this new law won’t free them from the constraints of those already on the books.

If you’re found in violation of a gun law, you need the assistance of someone experienced in the local courts. Contact my offices today to discuss the details of your case and to see if we might be able to help you.

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Having been in the works for over a year, the Crossroads of the West Gun Show was deemed too big of an event to cancel in the wake of the Tucson tragedy that left several dead and wounded, including a Unites States Congresswoman. The gun show’s organizers determined the shooting wasn’t about law abiding gun owners like those that would be attending their event, rather a solitary, and by all accounts disturbed individual.

The shooting that happened a few weeks ago now has thrust gun rights into the limelight. And like happens after all serious tragedies of this nature, some have cried out for stricter gun control laws. Others and likely the majority of those present at the gun show this past week, caution against such emotional motivations to legislation, affirming their right to bear arms as guaranteed in the 2^nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

As the Arizona Republic reports, some attendees at the gun show estimate gun sales have actually increased since the tragic massacre, both because people fear tighter legislation on the horizon and because they want to be armed in case such a gunman is ever in their midst.

This particular gun show is held five times a year in Tucson and organizers expected about 6,000 people. There’s nothing shady about the transactions here as vendors are licensed gun dealers and purchasers must go through background checks before walking away with a firearm.

Despite the right to bear arms, there are restrictions on how the gun can be carried and the penalties associated with running afoul of these laws. One of the most common criminal charges involving weapons isn’t a violent crime at all—it’s misdemeanor misconduct involving a weapon.

Misdemeanor misconduct involving a weapon can be levied against someone who carries a concealed weapon without a permit or carries a deadly weapon into a protected area, such as school grounds. This is punishable by up to 6 months in jail.

Other misconduct involving weapons can be felony charges if you deface a gun, possess a defaced gun, or sell a weapon to someone who is prohibited from having it. Again, this isn’t a violent crime but it is far more common than those charges the general public commonly think of—robbery or assault. Sure, there are misconduct involving weapons charges that do involve the discharge of a firearm but those are less common.

Weapons charges, even when they aren’t considered a violent crime, are very serious. Having to disclose a conviction for a gun crime on future job applications, for example, can affect you for years to come.

If you are facing gun charges in Arizona, you can bet the police and prosecutors will come done hard on you particularly in light of the recent tragedy. Contact us today for a free consultation on your case.

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Several laws went into effect this past week. For one, it is now lawful for Arizonans to possess sparklers! On a more serious note, however, it’s also okay for residents to carry a concealed weapon without a specific permit.

Arizona became only the second state to allow concealed weapons without a permit. The other state, Vermont, has a very different populous, with Arizona having several major metropolitan areas. The effects of the new law won’t be known for sometime, though gun rights advocates claim it should work to reduce crime.

Former Governor Janet Napolitano reportedly vetoed around 12 different weapons bills during her term. The new Governor, Jan Brewer, is a gun rights advocate, however, so the field changed when she took office in January 2009.

Under the new law, a person can carry a concealed weapon anywhere that an open carry was previously allowed. So, what once had to be carried in plain view, can now be placed in a purse or under the clothing.

According to the Arizona Republic, citizens carrying a weapon must disclose this when asked by police and the police can hold a citizen’s weapon during stops. Finally, the new laws stiffen penalties for crimes committed while in possession of a concealed firearm. In other words, the law will penalize those who use the expanded freedom to break other laws.

Carrying a concealed weapon without a permit used to be a Class 1 Misdemeanor punishable by 6 months in jail. This offense was one of the many ways you could be charged with Misconduct Involving Weapons.

Misconduct involving weapons is a charge that’s applicable under many situations. It can carry up to Class 3 felony penalties of up to 3.5 years in prison. It seems the new laws only affected the concealed weapons aspect of the crime and things like defacing weapons, selling prohibited weapons, and discharging firearms are still considered quite serious offenses.

Gun laws are changing around the country and Arizona is no exception. While some think the new laws will decrease crime, others wonder how hiding weapons benefit anyone. Only time will tell.

Gun charges are taken very seriously in the courts. Although the 2^nd Amendment guarantees your right to bear arms, Arizona makes several regulations regarding this. If you run afoul of any of these laws, you could be facing serious penalties.

If you’re facing charges like misconduct involving weapons, you need an aggressive defense attorney on your side. Contact me today for a consultation on your case and some valuable legal advice.

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According to this report from Arizona Capital Times, a House panel approved legislation that would make the state’s concealed weapons law “optional”. Contrary to what some sources are reporting, the proposed bill wouldn’t completely do away with the permits, it would make them a matter of choice. Critics argue, “What’s the difference?”

Currently, you must have a permit to carry a concealed weapon in the state of Arizona. Getting such a permit involves qualifying for the weapon and taking training. This is just one example of the many laws and rules controlling the ownership and use of firearms.

Advocates of the bill state that it gives citizens the power to protect themselves and is aligned with the 2^nd Amendment rights of the Constitution. Critics say the bill is asking for trouble.

According to a Gun Shop owner, interviewed by KSWT, “If you know nobody’s armed therefore you attack. If you know everybody has a gun, you leave them alone.” This is a common statement of gun rights advocates, claiming that the right to carry a concealed weapon deters crime rather than encourages it.

Under the current laws, carrying a concealed weapon without a permit is considered Misconduct Involving Weapons, Class 1 misdemeanor. It is an offense punishable by up to 6 months in jail. The offense is a fairly common one in the Arizona criminal courts.

Misconduct Involving Weapons is the criminal charge term applied to most weapons offenses here. Whether you are accused of defacing a gun, carrying one onto school grounds, or possessing a firearm when you are considered a felon, you will face a charge that falls under this heading.

There are gun charges, like possessing a concealed weapon without a permit, that are misdemeanors and there are many more than are considered felonies. Depending on the charge against you, you could be facing several years in prison and the label of “convicted felon”.

If you are charged with a weapons offense, you need the assistance of a defense attorney, one that knows the local courtroom players and always changing Arizona gun laws. Contact me today for a consultation on your case and some insight into what you should do next.

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