House of Representatives

HB 2584

concealed weapons; firearms safety training

Sponsors: Representative Pearce, Representative Biggs,

Representative Boone, Representative Burges et al.

 

DP

Committee on Judiciary

DP

Caucus and COW

X

As Transmitted to Governor

 

 

HB 2584 allows a person who receives a certificate of firearms proficiency from the Department of Public Safety to obtain a concealed weapons permit without having to complete a firearms safety training program.

 

History

The Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (H.R. 218) authorizes a qualified law enforcement officer or a qualified retired law enforcement officer with specific identification (ID) to carry a concealed firearm, notwithstanding any state or local law. The bill defines a qualified retired law enforcement officer as an officer who:

­       Retired in good standing from public agency service

­       Before retirement was authorized by law to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, investigation, prosecution of or incarceration of any person for any violation of the law and had statutory powers of arrest

Ř      Must have been regularly employed as a law enforcement officer for at least 15 years, or

Ř      Retired due to a service-connected disability

­       Has a non-forfeitable right to agency retirement benefits

­       Has met the state's standards for training and qualification for active law enforcement officers to carry firearms during the most recent 12-month period

­       Is not under the influence of alcohol or another intoxicating or hallucinatory drug or substance.

­       Is not prohibited by federal law from receiving a firearm

 

H.R. 218 requires the qualified retired law enforcement officer to carry either:

­       A photo ID issued by the agency that the person retired from indicating that the officer has been tested and found to meet agency standards for carrying a firearm within the past 12 months, or

­       A photo ID from the agency that the officer retired from and a certification issued by the state that indicates that the person has tested and been found by the state to meet the standards established by the state for active law enforcement officers to carry a firearm.

 

Laws 2005, Chapter 138 authorized the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to issue certificates of firearms proficiency according to the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AZPOST) firearms qualification for the purposes of implementing H.R. 218.

 

Laws 1994, Chapter 109, §4 created the Arizona permit to carry a concealed weapon (CCW).  Under Arizona’s CCW laws, a person must:

1.      Meet specific criteria

2.      Complete a firearms safety training program that approved by DPS

3.      Submit fingerprints for a criminal history check, and

4.      Pay the $65 permit fee. 

 

Once issued, the CCW permit is valid for five years.  Upon renewal of the permit, a person must complete a two-hour refresher firearms safety training program, submit to another criminal history check (first renewal only) and pay a renewal fee.  According to DPS, as of November 2005, there are 72,823 active CCW permits in Arizona

 

Provisions

·          Exempts a person who is issued a certificate of firearms proficiency by DPS under the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act from having to successfully complete a firearms safety training program to receive a CCW permit.

 

·          Makes technical changes.

 

 

 

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Forty-seventh Legislature                   Analyst Initials _______

Second Regular Session                      April 6, 2006

 

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