After Tragedy, Ariz. Looks to Expand Gun Rights
Law enforcement officers search the home of Dr. Timothy Jorden in Hamburg, N.Y., Thursday, June 14, 2012. Jorden is sought in connection with the hospital shooting death of his ex-girlfriend at Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, N.Y. on Wednesday. (AP Photo/David Duprey) / David Duprey
PHOENIX - Arizona has become a national leader in the gun rights movement in recent years as the state enacted law after law to protect the people's right to bear arms nearly anywhere, at anytime.
The shooting rampage that wounded Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, a former legislative colleague, has done nothing to slow down the Legislature.
Special Report: Tragedy in Tucson
Gallery: Tucson Shooting Victims
Gun rights bills were introduced in the days after the shootings last week, and more proposals are to come.
"I don't think it really changes anything," Republican state Sen. Ron Gould said of the mass shooting. "I don't see how gun control could have prevented that shooting unless you take guns out of the hands of law-abiding citizens."
The shooting in Tucson brought new attention to the national gun control debate after authorities said the rampage was carried out by a man who couldn't get into the military because of his drug use and had repeated run-ins with police at his community college because of his bizarre mental behavior. Jared Loughner bought the 9 mm handgun legally at a Tucson gun store, and was also carrying extended magazines that hold 30 rounds of ammunition.
Tucson Shootings Reload Debate on Gun Control
Guns Are Everywhere in Arizona
Will Arizona Reexamine its Gun Laws?
Arizona Shootings Ratchet up Gun Control Debate
Arizona Republicans remain adamant that the shooting will not dissuade them from pushing their pro-gun agenda.
They want new laws allowing college and university faculty members to be able to carry concealed weapons on campus, an issue that gained attention after the 2007 shooting at Virginia Tech University. Only Utah has a law allowing concealed weapons on college campuses while 24 states have bans, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
"There are going to be some nervous Nellies, so to speak, but I think that it will be overcome," said John Wentling, a leader of the Arizona Citizens Defense League, a gun owners advocacy group active at the Capitol. "We still have an obligation to protect constitutional and civil rights."
Bills already introduced this year in Arizona in the Republican-controlled Legislature include barring landlords and homeowner groups from restricting the right to bear arms in self defense, and expanding the current law that allows gun owners to display a weapon in self defense. And Wentling said his group's priority bill, which he wouldn't discuss, hasn't been unveiled yet.
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, a moderate Democrat, was barely out of the operating room after being shot through the left side of her brain before voices on both sides of those core issues and the political divide were lining up to promote their beliefs.
Pima County Sheriff Clarence W. Dupnik, at a news conference Sunday, blamed a "climate of hatred," "mistrust of government" and "paranoia" for the Tucson shooting, a crime that again has seized the attention of Americans. Among the six killed were a federal judge and a 9-year-old girl.
Dupnik chastised the Arizona legislature for lax gun laws and said the state had become "the Tombstone of the United States of America." He was referring to the lawless, late 19th century silver mining boom town in Arizona. It was home to many Wild West gunfighters.
Giffords herself had spoken of her concerns about the U.S. political atmosphere, even before the shooting. In an interview when her office was vandalized after she voted to support President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, she referred to the animosity against her by conservatives. Later she spoke of Sarah Palin's decision to list Giffords' seat as one of the top "targets" in the midterm elections.
Many Republican lawmakers emphasized the growing belief that Loughner was mentally unstable, not someone who was inspired by the kind of far right or tea party rhetoric that characterized the last election.
"It's probably giving him too much credit to ascribe a coherent political philosophy to him. We just have to acknowledge that there are mentally unstable people in this country. Who knows what motivates them to do what they do? Then they commit terrible crimes like this," said Arizona Republican Sen. John Kyl, the majority whip.
Arizona's permissive gun laws and the state's heritage dating to the Wild West days sometimes jolts newcomers, particularly in Phoenix and other metro areas where most residents live. Heads turned in 2009 when a man openly carried a semiautomatic rifle to a Phoenix protest outside a speech by President Barack Obama.
At the Legislature, some female lawmakers with concealed weapons permits have acknowledged carrying guns in their purses despite a state law prohibiting guns in public buildings. Visitors to legislative buildings are supposed to place their weapons in lockboxes.
Last year, Arizona become the third state to make it legal for adults to carry a concealed weapon without getting training and a background check. In 2009, the big change was allowing armed people in bars and restaurants, if they're not drinking alcohol and the establishments haven't posted signs against it.
House Speaker Kirk Adams said last year's bill to legalize carrying concealed weapons without a permit wasn't a mistake.
"Arizona remains a place that is respectful and adamant about our Second Amendment rights, and I think the people of Arizona support that," said Adams, one of 61 Republicans making up two-thirds of the 90-member Legislature.
Former Gov. Janet Napolitano signed several bills supporting gun rights between 2003 and 2008, but the Democrat vetoed others. When Napolitano resigned to become U.S. Homeland Security secretary in 2009, Republican Jan Brewer stepped into the governor's office, and more laws protecting gun owners were made.
Brewer signed bills into law that let people keep guns in locked vehicles at parking lots of businesses that prohibit guns and barred local governments from prohibiting a person with a concealed weapon permit from having a gun in a park.
Gun control proponents hope that the Tucson shooting can create momentum in pushing back against the various pro-weapon bills in the Legislature. They want to pass more regulation of gun shows while prohibiting sales of extended magazines like the one authorities say the suspected shooter used.
Still, Sen. Steve Gallardo, a Phoenix Democrat, acknowledges that such proposals have little to no chances of ever passing, but said "we have to start the education. I would hope that many members of the Legislature see it as a wake-up call."
Sen. Jack Harper, a Republican sponsoring the campus-carry measures, said he didn't want to be seen as trying to take advantage of the Tucson tragedy by citing it as reason to support his legislation, but he said it was vital, given the deadly shootings on university campuses and the Arizona Board of Regents' policy banning guns. The board oversees the state's schools.
"University professors are tired of feeling like sitting ducks," Harper said.
© 2011 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The shooting rampage that wounded Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, a former legislative colleague, has done nothing to slow down the Legislature.
Special Report: Tragedy in Tucson
Gallery: Tucson Shooting Victims
Gun rights bills were introduced in the days after the shootings last week, and more proposals are to come.
"I don't think it really changes anything," Republican state Sen. Ron Gould said of the mass shooting. "I don't see how gun control could have prevented that shooting unless you take guns out of the hands of law-abiding citizens."
The shooting in Tucson brought new attention to the national gun control debate after authorities said the rampage was carried out by a man who couldn't get into the military because of his drug use and had repeated run-ins with police at his community college because of his bizarre mental behavior. Jared Loughner bought the 9 mm handgun legally at a Tucson gun store, and was also carrying extended magazines that hold 30 rounds of ammunition.
Tucson Shootings Reload Debate on Gun Control
Guns Are Everywhere in Arizona
Will Arizona Reexamine its Gun Laws?
Arizona Shootings Ratchet up Gun Control Debate
Arizona Republicans remain adamant that the shooting will not dissuade them from pushing their pro-gun agenda.
They want new laws allowing college and university faculty members to be able to carry concealed weapons on campus, an issue that gained attention after the 2007 shooting at Virginia Tech University. Only Utah has a law allowing concealed weapons on college campuses while 24 states have bans, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
"There are going to be some nervous Nellies, so to speak, but I think that it will be overcome," said John Wentling, a leader of the Arizona Citizens Defense League, a gun owners advocacy group active at the Capitol. "We still have an obligation to protect constitutional and civil rights."
Bills already introduced this year in Arizona in the Republican-controlled Legislature include barring landlords and homeowner groups from restricting the right to bear arms in self defense, and expanding the current law that allows gun owners to display a weapon in self defense. And Wentling said his group's priority bill, which he wouldn't discuss, hasn't been unveiled yet.
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, a moderate Democrat, was barely out of the operating room after being shot through the left side of her brain before voices on both sides of those core issues and the political divide were lining up to promote their beliefs.
Pima County Sheriff Clarence W. Dupnik, at a news conference Sunday, blamed a "climate of hatred," "mistrust of government" and "paranoia" for the Tucson shooting, a crime that again has seized the attention of Americans. Among the six killed were a federal judge and a 9-year-old girl.
Dupnik chastised the Arizona legislature for lax gun laws and said the state had become "the Tombstone of the United States of America." He was referring to the lawless, late 19th century silver mining boom town in Arizona. It was home to many Wild West gunfighters.
Giffords herself had spoken of her concerns about the U.S. political atmosphere, even before the shooting. In an interview when her office was vandalized after she voted to support President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, she referred to the animosity against her by conservatives. Later she spoke of Sarah Palin's decision to list Giffords' seat as one of the top "targets" in the midterm elections.
Many Republican lawmakers emphasized the growing belief that Loughner was mentally unstable, not someone who was inspired by the kind of far right or tea party rhetoric that characterized the last election.
"It's probably giving him too much credit to ascribe a coherent political philosophy to him. We just have to acknowledge that there are mentally unstable people in this country. Who knows what motivates them to do what they do? Then they commit terrible crimes like this," said Arizona Republican Sen. John Kyl, the majority whip.
Arizona's permissive gun laws and the state's heritage dating to the Wild West days sometimes jolts newcomers, particularly in Phoenix and other metro areas where most residents live. Heads turned in 2009 when a man openly carried a semiautomatic rifle to a Phoenix protest outside a speech by President Barack Obama.
At the Legislature, some female lawmakers with concealed weapons permits have acknowledged carrying guns in their purses despite a state law prohibiting guns in public buildings. Visitors to legislative buildings are supposed to place their weapons in lockboxes.
Last year, Arizona become the third state to make it legal for adults to carry a concealed weapon without getting training and a background check. In 2009, the big change was allowing armed people in bars and restaurants, if they're not drinking alcohol and the establishments haven't posted signs against it.
House Speaker Kirk Adams said last year's bill to legalize carrying concealed weapons without a permit wasn't a mistake.
"Arizona remains a place that is respectful and adamant about our Second Amendment rights, and I think the people of Arizona support that," said Adams, one of 61 Republicans making up two-thirds of the 90-member Legislature.
Former Gov. Janet Napolitano signed several bills supporting gun rights between 2003 and 2008, but the Democrat vetoed others. When Napolitano resigned to become U.S. Homeland Security secretary in 2009, Republican Jan Brewer stepped into the governor's office, and more laws protecting gun owners were made.
Brewer signed bills into law that let people keep guns in locked vehicles at parking lots of businesses that prohibit guns and barred local governments from prohibiting a person with a concealed weapon permit from having a gun in a park.
Gun control proponents hope that the Tucson shooting can create momentum in pushing back against the various pro-weapon bills in the Legislature. They want to pass more regulation of gun shows while prohibiting sales of extended magazines like the one authorities say the suspected shooter used.
Still, Sen. Steve Gallardo, a Phoenix Democrat, acknowledges that such proposals have little to no chances of ever passing, but said "we have to start the education. I would hope that many members of the Legislature see it as a wake-up call."
Sen. Jack Harper, a Republican sponsoring the campus-carry measures, said he didn't want to be seen as trying to take advantage of the Tucson tragedy by citing it as reason to support his legislation, but he said it was vital, given the deadly shootings on university campuses and the Arizona Board of Regents' policy banning guns. The board oversees the state's schools.
"University professors are tired of feeling like sitting ducks," Harper said.
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Anyway, I did not say we should BE Canada. I said we can learn from a country that does not have our violence or health care problems. And that is NO ACCIDENT, it is based on good planning and being knowledgeable about what is important for a good human life.
For black and white reactionary conservatives, everything is black and white. Thus if you control dangerous weapons, you are trying to take them away.
There WAS an armed citizen present; Joe Zamudio was armed and almost shot the person who disarmed Loughner. He ended up not discharging his weapon (thankfully) so the body count was one less than it could have been.
That's the real danger of increasing the saturation of weapons; people who lack the training and use them. With mandatory background checks and mandated training, I would worry less, but in places like Arizona gun rights are being expanded towards anyone being able to buy any weapon at any time.
We literally have a plague of violence, murder and death in America. I know the right wingers need that keep up fear and stay in power but it is quite a dangerous situation for everyone.
And when seconds count, the cops are only minutes away.
Dupnik is just trying to coverup his own and his joke of a Pima County
Sheriff Department failure to have provided any deputy sheriffs for security at Democrat Congresswoman Giffords public event in Tucson as well. As a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and NRA Member you
betcha Arizona is leading the way in helping take back our Second Amendent Rights to Keep & Bear Arms,that even the US Supreme Court haS
upheld in a case envolving local gun laws last session as well. The recent shooting incident in Tucson was carried out by a know nutcase and
who big mouth Democrat 75 year old Pima County Sheriff Dupnik and other
law enforcement agencies and Pima County Community College have had a number of previous contacts with as well and failed to seek involuntary
commitment of the shooter. So can we move on now?
House Speaker Kirk Adams said last year's bill to legalize carrying concealed weapons without a permit wasn't a mistake.
"Arizona remains a place that is respectful and adamant about our Second Amendment rights, and I think the people of Arizona support that," said Adams, one of 61 Republicans making up two-thirds of the 90-member Legislature.
THESE ARE EXTREME! THERE IS NO LEGITAMITE REASON WHY A 'LAW ABIDING CITIZEN' SHOULDNT HAVE TO PROVE A. THEIR SANITY B. THEY ARE NOT A CRIMINAL I.E. 'LAW ABIDING CITIZEN' OR C. THAT THEY ARE TRAINED AND KNOW HOW TO PROPERLY CARRY AND HANDLE A WEAPON!
i dont understand why these states WANT to make is so easy to get and carry a concealed gun! i live in upstate NY and i can get a gun here no problem if i wanted to, i have no criminal history, nor do i intend to create one; i would have to take appropraite steps to obtain a weapon, but knowing everyone else has to too, makes me as a CITIZEN who goes to a college campus and bars ALOT SAFER knowing that there are not armed drunk people wailing around!! call me a yankee liberal,
but before you do........ask yourself; WHY do you WANT to make it so easy?
with tougher gun laws it seems to me it makes it easier for law enforcement to actually do their job, knowing they arent outnumbered by possibly untrained, crazed, or criminal 'law abiding citizens' and as one myself i am happy to prove all 3 to law enforecement to obtain one if i wanted to do so.