Drizzt
Member
DPS Opposes New Gun Bill
An Arizona bill would make it easier for people to hide weapons in their vehicles. The measure would loosen restrictions on gun owners, but the Department of Public Safety says it will put patrol officers in danger.
In the state of Arizona, you can store a loaded gun inside your vehicle's trunk, glove box, or map compartment, but all of that may soon change. A new bill will allow gun owners without concealed weapons permits to store their guns anywhere inside their car, even under the seat.
"I guess my question would be who would want to?" says DPS patrol officer, Steve Strong. He believes the measure would make his job even more risky by allowing criminals easy access to their guns during a traffic stop. He says he's not concerned about permit-holders who are trained to obide by the law.
"They have to go to a qualifications course with their weapon that they carry so they're responsible gun owners. The people who wouldn't get a concealed permit are generally people who can't or they don't want them," says Strong.
Lawmakers backing the bill say the current law isn't clear about where you can store your gun and where you cannot, but Strong says officer safety should be the number one priority. During his 19 years in law enforcement, Strong has dealt with many situations where armed citizens posed serious threats during traffic stops.
"Things happen at the speed of light and slow motion, and I've been very fortunate that the situations got resolved in a good manner."
The bill has already been approved by the House Judiciary Committee with strong support from Republicans.
http://www.kswt.com/Global/story.asp?S=7890090
An Arizona bill would make it easier for people to hide weapons in their vehicles. The measure would loosen restrictions on gun owners, but the Department of Public Safety says it will put patrol officers in danger.
In the state of Arizona, you can store a loaded gun inside your vehicle's trunk, glove box, or map compartment, but all of that may soon change. A new bill will allow gun owners without concealed weapons permits to store their guns anywhere inside their car, even under the seat.
"I guess my question would be who would want to?" says DPS patrol officer, Steve Strong. He believes the measure would make his job even more risky by allowing criminals easy access to their guns during a traffic stop. He says he's not concerned about permit-holders who are trained to obide by the law.
"They have to go to a qualifications course with their weapon that they carry so they're responsible gun owners. The people who wouldn't get a concealed permit are generally people who can't or they don't want them," says Strong.
Lawmakers backing the bill say the current law isn't clear about where you can store your gun and where you cannot, but Strong says officer safety should be the number one priority. During his 19 years in law enforcement, Strong has dealt with many situations where armed citizens posed serious threats during traffic stops.
"Things happen at the speed of light and slow motion, and I've been very fortunate that the situations got resolved in a good manner."
The bill has already been approved by the House Judiciary Committee with strong support from Republicans.
http://www.kswt.com/Global/story.asp?S=7890090
great guy!