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Take Action on Important Bills being Heard in Committee This Week!
Some members have told us that they have had trouble locating bills they would like to comment on within the RTS system. Remember that it is not necessary to include the "SB" or "HB" when performing an agenda search. It often works best to enter just the four-digit bill number.
The length of comments allowed by RTS is very limited but we have provided some "talking points" below to help you formulate your ideas.
HB 2705
HB 2705 is now being considered by the state Senate and will next be heard in the Senate Education committee. The bill will establish the School Active Threat Response Pilot Program in the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to provide school safety training and support to school districts and charter schools. It will appropriate $10 million from the general fund in FY2023-24 to ADE for the Program.
Talking points for HB 2705:
- Nothing is more important than protecting children from violence. Gun Free Zones provide NO protection from criminals intent on harm.
- All too often, school personnel are unprepared and ill-equipped to deal with large-scale emergencies on campus.
- In a perfect world, programs like this would not be necessary, but we live in the real world and must be prepared when catastrophe strikes.
- The School Active Threat Response Pilot Program gives administrators and faculty access to proven programs such as FASTER Saves Lives, which has been protecting students from violent attacks for over 10 years.
- Programs like FASTER are NOT just about arming teachers, they teach threat assessment skills, tactical self-defense, and emergency medical response, which have been proven to save lives.
- Medical professionals stress the importance of immediate life-saving measures in the event of a violent attack. FASTER and similar programs give faculty and administrators the skills and knowledge to respond far more quickly than emergency responders can.
HB 2332 will be heard in the Senate Education committee this week. The bill requires that, beginning July 1, 2024, school districts and charter schools must provide public school students in grades 6 through 12 with one or more training sessions in firearms safety in an age-appropriate manner. School districts and charter schools are required to notify the parents of any student who will receive training at least two weeks before the training is provided and must allow parents to opt the student out of the training.
Talking points for HB 2332:
- Children are naturally curious about many things, including guns. That curiosity should be satisfied in a professional, controlled environment where they can safely learn how to respond to the presence of a firearm.
- Safety classes will be taught by professional instructors and will not involve having children handling firearms at any time.
HB 2332 and HB 2705 are scheduled to be heard on Wednesday afternoon, March 15, at 2:00 PM by the Senate Education committee. Please use RTS to add your comments for both bills in order to keep them moving forward.
Of course, you can also attend the committee hearing in person. If you would like to address the committee while there, use RTS to indicate that you would like to speak.
Please log into the RTS system today to enter your "For" vote and encourage your legislators to pass these bills out of committee.
HB 2019
HB 2019 is headed to the Senate Government committee next. The bill stipulates that a county or municipality that requires a license or permit for any constitutionally protected activity or any activity that changes the use, appearance, or density of a structure or land, the county or municipality is required to state in clear and unambiguous language the criteria for granting the license or permit. Counties and municipalities are required to grant or deny an application for such a license or permit within 60 days, with some exceptions.
Talking points for HB 2019:
- The requirements for obtaining a license for many activities are often complex and unclear. The process for applying for a license should not be some kind of test that the applicant must pass in order to conduct that activity.
- Far too often, processing license applications takes a back seat to other government activities, leaving applicants waiting extended periods of time for a response from the issuing agency. HB 2019 mandates a response within a reasonable timeframe.
Please log into the RTS system today to enter your "For" vote and encourage your legislators to pass these bills out of committee.
SB 1428
SB 1428 is now in the state House and will be heard in the House Judiciary committee this week. The bill specifies that political subdivisions cannot prohibit a gun show from occurring in the political subdivision or enact or enforce any ordinance, rule or policy that primarily affects gun shows and effectively prohibits a gun show from occurring in the political subdivision.
Talking points for SB 1428:
- In some locales, gun shows are singled out for additional restrictions or sometimes prohibited all together, while other events proceed without interference. Such discrimination is not justified as gun shows are safe and lucrative for the host jurisdictions.
- Cities and counties should not be playing political favorites when it comes to hosting events open to the public.
Please log into the RTS system today to enter your "For" vote and encourage your legislators to pass these bills out of committee.
HB 2617
HB 2617 will be heard in the Senate Military Affairs and Public Safety committee this week. HB 2617 would allow constables and deputy constables in good standing and certified by the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board, or who have completed an equivalent course, to carry a firearm in most instances. To qualify, constables must have a valid concealed weapons permit or have passed a background check, undergo a psychological examination and maintain annual firearms proficiency.
Talking points for HB 2617:
- The vast majority of gun owners in the United States are responsible and law-abiding citizens who use their firearms for self-defense and other lawful purposes. According to a study by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, only a tiny fraction of gun owners are involved in criminal activity.
- The presence of firearms in the hands of responsible and trained individuals can act as a deterrent to potential attackers. A study published in the Journal of Criminal Justice found that the implementation of concealed carry laws led to a reduction in violent crime rates.
Please log into the RTS system today to enter your "For" vote and encourage your legislators to pass these bills out of committee.
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