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New AZ law

Governor Napolitano today signed into law HD 2076. As I read it, the statute:

1. Provides that when an operator of a public establishment or public event prohibits carrying of arms, he must provide secure and temporary storage for them. Further clarifies that the storage must be immediately accessible upon leaving.

2. Public event and establishment are defined as in ARS 13-3102, i.e.:

K. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Public establishment" means a structure, vehicle or craft that is owned, leased or operated by this state or a political subdivision of this state.

2. "Public event" means a specifically named or sponsored event of limited duration either conducted by a public entity or conducted by a private entity with a permit or license granted by a public entity. Public event does not include an unsponsored gathering of people in a public place.

Note that the first covers government buildings. There will probably be some officials hot under the collar in the near future.

3. Existing law states that a holstered firearm is not a concealed weapon if carried in the glove compartment of a car: 2076 adds the map pocket as a place it may be carried.

{Update: I suspect the Univ. of Ariz. wouldn't be a public establishment, since it's an area rather than a structure. But I've always had a problem with the idea that it could regulate conduct, anyway -- other than maybe providing for expulsion IF the state law allowed that. I know they have parking regulations, and will "boot" cars -- but I am not at all sure that they have any such powers, as against just doing it and figuring people will pay.]

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