We thank everyone who used the Legislature’s Request to Speak (RTS) system to show support for SB 1382 which proposes to classify ammunition and firearms related businesses as “essential” during a state of emergency.  You made a difference.  SB 1382 passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on February 4 by a 5 to 3 vote along party lines.

On Wednesday, February 10, HB 2111 and HB 2551 are scheduled for an 8:30 AM hearing in the House Government & Elections Committee.

HB 2111 proposes that any act, law, treaty, rule or regulation of the U.S. Government that violates the Second Amendment would be unenforceable in Arizona.

HB 2551 would, with certain exceptions, exempt CCW permit holders from the prohibition on entering state and local government-controlled property while armed.

On Thursday, February 11, SB 1328 is scheduled for a 9 AM hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee.  SB 1328 is almost identical to HB 2111 but contains the added verbiage that any act, law, treaty, rule or regulation of the U.S. Government that violates Article 2, Section 26 of the Arizona Constitution would also be unenforceable in Arizona.  Article 2, Section 26 is Arizona’s constitutional protection of our right to bear arms.  We prefer the SB 1328 version to the almost identical HB 2111 version, but it’s important that BOTH bills pass out of their respective committees.

Your RTS “vote” supporting these bills must be entered before the February 10 & 11 hearings.