Kicking Into Gear in Our Third Decade
Twentieth Anniversary Annual Meeting a Huge Success!
Thank you to those that attended AzCDL’s 20th anniversary Annual Meeting and everyone that supported us by participating in our anniversary firearm raffles! Thanks also to Eric Baker and Byron Vaughn of MMP Guns and Cody Desomma of POF-USA for their generous donations of those beautiful guns and the work they put into producing them. We’re grateful to the many vendors and sponsors that made the event so successful and also to our keynote speaker, Second Amendment Foundation President Massad Ayoob. A special thank-you to all of our volunteers who worked diligently to plan and execute a terrific event! Check out the full recap of the event on page 2.
Moving into Our Third Decade
We spent some time during the meeting and in the previous newsletter reflecting on the last two decades and how proud we are of what we’ve accomplished. Now, it’s time to look to the future and focus on our third decade!
It’s a very different political environment today than it was in 2005, and AzCDL is adapting to the times. Back then, Arizona’s solid majority of pro-rights Senators and Representatives in the state legislature and a supportive governor meant we could focus on expanding protections for the right to keep and bear arms. Today, that majority is hanging on by a thread and the governor is openly hostile to your rights, so we are taking action.
AzCDL PAC
To improve the makeup of the legislature as well as county boards of supervisors and city councils around Arizona, we formed a new Political Action Committee (AzCDL PAC) last year. Your generous financial support to the PAC enables us to help pro-rights candidates win their elections.
The PAC is gearing up to vet candidates and identify races where our resources can make a difference for firearms owners. If you have suggestions, please let us know.
AzCDL Litigation
As Michael Infanzon explains in his Copper Dome Update on page 2, we still have issues with cities and counties within Arizona violating the state preemption statutes that keep them from restricting firearms more severely than state law allows. While we always try to work with city councils and country boards of supervisors in a constructive manner, AzCDL and our litigation partners stand ready to defend your rights in court, when necessary. Our victory with the Goldwater Institute against Pima County last year serves as a warning to local authorities that mean to impair your right to keep and bear arms.
Working Year ‘Round—With Your Help
As Michael’s article demonstrates, AzCDL doesn’t close for the season when the legislature adjourns. We work year-round to protect your rights. That job requires your active involvement and our effectiveness is amplified with each new member. If every AzCDL member would sign-up just one friend, it would double our impact at the Capitol and give us the resources to expand our fight against the gun-grabbers.
Don’t sit on the sidelines in the fight for freedom. Join us and be part of the winning team!
—Michael Gibbs
AzCDL President
Expanding AzCDL’s reach into litigation and elections enables us to exert even more political influence as we enter our third decade.
Twentieth Annual Meeting Recap
If you weren’t able to attend the 2025 Annual Meeting of Members, you missed quite an event! Vice President Cheryl Todd did a great job in her first year as our new MC, Massad Ayoob hit the ball out of the park with his keynote address, and we gave away a ton of great prizes.
Our two anniversary raffle guns, donated by MMP Guns and POF-USA were on display and got plenty of attention as Byron Vaughn and Eric Baker showed them off for the audience.
Senator Wendy Rogers of Legislative District 7 was awarded Legislator of the Year for her tireless efforts on behalf of firearms owners, getting 5 pro-rights bills to the governor’s desk.
As Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Colonel Rogers also managed to stop a large number of anti-rights bills in their tracks.
Representative Quang Nguyen of LD 1, himself a two-time winner of our Legislator of the Year award, this year took home the Golden Shredder award for using his position as Chair of the House Judiciary Committee to personally kill 74 anti-rights bills during his time in the legislature!
AzCDL’s Chief Lobbyist, Michael Infanzon, was presented with our first-ever Defender of Freedom award for his work both at the legislature and in city halls around the state. Mike’s efforts to not only improve state laws but to identify and correct problems with county and local ordinances are improving life for all Arizona firearms owners.
After a great lunch, members were able to visit the dozen vendors on hand presenting everything from legal protection plans to security dog training. Our speakers were so compelling that the representatives from Hands of Hope in Tucson decided to take firearm lessons!
Don’t miss next year’s annual meeting in Phoenix, and help us get off to a great start in our third decade of firearm freedom in Arizona!
Copper Dome Update
Defending the RKBA
AzCDL continues to advance a comprehensive defense of the right to keep and bear arms through targeted legislative research, direct government engagement, and strategic policy oversight. Over the past quarter, we are transitioning from research and drafting into active legislative preparation for the 2026 session. Legislative champions at the state Capitol have already begun opening bill folders to introduce AzCDL-backed proposals. Each of these efforts represents a deliberate step to safeguard the rights of Arizona’s lawful gun owners and to reinforce state preemption and due process protections.
Goodyear Preemption Violation
The City of Goodyear’s municipal code continues to contain provisions restricting lawful carry in public buildings and parks beyond what is permitted under A.R.S. § 13-3108. AzCDL has issued a formal notice of violation to the city attorney and is monitoring corrective progress. If the city does not align its code with state law, AzCDL will support statutory amendments granting the Attorney General clearer enforcement authority to impose sanctions or financial penalties against localities that knowingly violate preemption.
Preemption Violations by Political Subdivisions
This broader project expands on the Goodyear case by compiling a statewide report on preemption violations. Several political subdivisions have enacted ordinances or administrative rules conflicting with A.R.S. § 13-3108. AzCDL’s legislative team has drafted clarifying language for 2026 that would tighten compliance requirements, strengthen the Attorney General’s investigative powers, and impose direct fiscal consequences for willful violations. Legislative champions have already expressed interest in sponsoring this measure to restore statewide consistency.
Youth Firearms School Safety Initiative
AzCDL’s education policy work has culminated in a proposed bill establishing a voluntary firearms safety and awareness curriculum in public schools. The measure draws on successful models from Tennessee, Texas, Florida, and Utah, where firearm accident rates among minors have declined following adoption of similar educational programs. Draft legislative text has been completed and reviewed by staff. The AzCDL Foundation is promoting the FASTER Saves Lives initiative which could serve as the basis for improving safety in schools.
Debanking Issue
The denial of banking services to lawful firearms businesses remains a central priority. Following documented cases of payment processors and financial institutions categorizing firearms transactions as “high-risk,” AzCDL has developed draft legislation to prohibit financial discrimination against any entity engaged in lawful firearms commerce. The proposal mirrors the protections found in Texas’s Financial Discrimination Against Firearm Entities Act, codified at Texas Financial Code § 2274.001 et seq. Legislative sponsors have confirmed their intent to introduce the Arizona version of this bill in the opening weeks of the 2026 session.
Women for Gun Rights Collaboration
AzCDL continues to strengthen partnerships with the Women for Gun Rights organization, expanding public outreach and education initiatives across Arizona. These collaborative efforts have brought new advocates into the Second Amendment space through public forums, range safety events, and civic engagement workshops. This partnership enhances AzCDL’s presence at both state and local levels, creating a more representative and informed advocacy network.
Concealed Weapons Permits: Fees Inquiry
AzCDL is conducting a fiscal review of CCW program fee structures to determine whether the current fee levels accurately reflect administrative costs. Preliminary data indicates that fees may exceed operational requirements, suggesting potential for reduction without affecting DPS’s ability to process applications. A draft amendment has been prepared to realign the fee schedule, ensuring accessibility and fairness for all lawful permit holders.
Data Privacy Concerns in the CCW Program
Recent inquiries into the Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) permit database have raised concerns regarding data retention, access, and sharing protocols. AzCDL’s research team has conducted a detailed statutory review to ensure that the Department of Public Safety (DPS) adheres to A.R.S. § 13-3112 and related administrative rules. The proposed legislative fix will strengthen privacy protections by explicitly prohibiting the use or disclosure of CCW data beyond authorized law enforcement functions. The intent is to prevent misuse or unauthorized external access while maintaining administrative efficiency and lawful verification processes.
Attorney General Weapons Trafficking Oversight
In light of recent statements by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office regarding enhanced weapons trafficking enforcement, AzCDL is monitoring the scope of investigative practices to ensure they remain consistent with statutory authority. We are examining whether any enforcement trends risk conflating lawful commerce or private transfers with criminal conduct. We have shared preliminary findings with legislators and AG staff.
Legislative Preparation for the 2026 Session
AzCDL’s government affairs and policy research teams have finalized and submitted multiple legislative proposals for pre-session review. Legislative champions in both the House and Senate have already opened folders to carry AzCDL-sponsored bills addressing privacy, preemption, financial discrimination, firearms safety education, and due process protections. Early engagement in the drafting and filing process positions AzCDL to influence committee scheduling and ensure each proposal receives substantive consideration when the Legislature convenes in January.
These efforts reflect AzCDL’s proactive strategy: not merely reacting to threats but driving the legislative conversation on firearms policy in Arizona.
Our work underscores AzCDL’s continuous vigilance in both legislative and administrative arenas. Our advocacy extends beyond session deadlines to year-round oversight of government conduct, ensuring that every statute, regulation, and ordinance remains consistent with constitutional guarantees. This is only the beginning as we have many more efforts in the works.
Members play an indispensable role in sustaining these efforts. Attendance at town halls, prompt responses to action alerts, and constructive engagement with legislators remain key to maintaining Arizona’s strong firearms-rights framework. Every letter, call, and committee appearance contributes to the defense of liberty.
GET INVOLVED
Are you a student concerned about campus safety? Contact us to get involved in the campus carry advocacy campaign.
Do you know a city with questionable firearm ordinances? Send tips to our legislative team for investigation.
Are you a veteran denied a CCW without explanation? Reach out—your case may help us shape new policy.
Keep your powder dry and stay frosty.
—Michael Infanzon, EPIC Policy Group
AzCDL Chief Lobbyist
Looking Back—and Forward
It doesn’t seem it, but 20 years ago, I joined an organization that had as its goal turning the common misconception of Arizona as a completely firearms friendly state into reality. It’s been a long, hard fight against hostile governors, spineless legislators (with some notable exceptions), and a mostly indifferent electorate, but our successes far outweigh our failures…and our most overlooked but critical success lies in the fact that on our watch, not a single anti-gun bill, not a single anti-gun amendment, has made it out of committee for a floor vote!
Over that nearly quarter century, I’ve had the honor to serve as ‘Membership Director’, ‘Recruiting Director’, ‘Senior/Chief Volunteer Coordinator’ and a few others. I’ve had the good fortune to serve with some outstanding volunteers and coordinators: Some of the most active and memorable were Mark Spencer, Cap Lund, and Ed Martinez, all unfortunately now promoted to recruiting angels; Mike Colmenero, Stephen Wenger, Dave Richardson and Barry Spinka, along with a host of others who’ve put in countless hours building this organization. I’ve been privileged to work alongside Dave Kopp, John Wentling, Fred Dahnke and Charles Heller, our founders.
Part of the adventure of recruiting was the weekends traveling across this great state, meeting like-minded people, gathering members and recruiting volunteers and area coordinators, which sometimes led to unintentional, lighter moments. There was the time Mark and I arrived in Lake Havasu City long after dark, and wound up on London Bridge. I remember mentioning “I don’t think this leads to our hotel.” And the time when Dave and I were returning from a show out west and last night’s supper was rumbling ominously, with the next rest room almost a quarter hour away…and traffic stopped while a medevac helicopter landed in the middle of the highway to evacuate the victim of a traffic accident. Or the year Mark and I hit shows over 40 weekends in a year—each one a different town, a different motel. Not that it was confusing, but a side issue was the morning I awakened at 0300 on a Wednesday in my own bed…and had no idea where my bathroom was. Then there was the early SAR show with Charles: Friday alone, we signed up over 50 new members, and had an problem with the receipts. After dealing with Security and related issues, we finally decided supper was in order. Charles insisted on Chinese, so off we drove to that part of Phoenix featuring Asian food, and found Vietnamese restaurants, Japanese restaurants, Thai restaurants…everything but Chinese. Finally, a sign appeared in the windshield offering Vietnamese, Japanese AND CHINESE. Tired, depressed and hungry, we pulled in, and as he turned the car off, Charles, aware of my ‘senior trip’ year abroad, pointed at the ‘Vietnamese’ part of the sign and asked ‘You’re not going to kill anybody, are you?’ I looked him in the eye, and rumbled, completely straight-faced, ‘That all depends on how they treat us.’
There have been good times and some not so good, shows where we’ve had more volunteers than we could accommodate and shows where it was just the coordinators, shows where we could barely keep up with people clamoring to join and shows where the best we could claim was missionary work…but it’s been a hell of a ride, and I wouldn’t trade a minute of it.
That said, while I may be stepping down from a board, I’m not going away (sorry to disappoint so many). I intend to keep working, keep recruiting, keep training and encouraging new coordinators and volunteers until every last gun owner in the state at least knows who we are and supports us.
—Duke Schechter
Listen to the
Copper Dome Update: 2A Edition
Every Friday on Spotify
Your right to keep and bear arms deserves more than headlines—it deserves context, clarity, and a voice you can trust. Join host Michael Infanzon, AzCDL’s Chief Lobbyist, for a weekly breakdown of legislative action, court rulings, and policy developments that affect Arizona gun owners. Each episode delivers facts, not fluff—equip- ping you with the information you need to defend your rights and hold elected officials accountable.
New episodes drop every Friday. Listen on Spotify: Copper Dome Update – 2A Edition
https://open.spotify.com/show/5b3ubE aP78bhgpqW6fqzax?si=cf41c3dcb9 9346e1