Last year, this correspondent had to replace a failing wallet. Transferring the contents from the old to the new included the Arizona Concealed Carry permit.
A glance at the expiration date showed the transfer was serendipitous; the card was to expire within a month. Eventually, a helpful lady at the Department of Public Safety made arrangements for a renewal form to be sent, the necessary money order was obtained; and a renewal card received. All hinged on the happenstance of seeing the card was about to expire. No notice of the expiration was sent out by the Department of Public Safety.
If the card is renewed in time, a simple transfer of money with the simple form is all which is necessary. If one is too late, it becomes more complicated. Fingerprints have to be obtained, and the fee is greater.
This correspondent contacted Dave Kopp, President of the Arizona Citizens Defense League, to see what had transpired, that no notice was sent out by the Department of Public Safety. This correspondent has had a lifetime membership in the AZCDL for many years, and was actively involved in the campaign to create a Shall Issue permit sytem in Arizona. AZCDL incrementally reformed the system, and eventually restored Constitutional Carry to Arizona.
Dave indicated the Arizona Department of Public Safety simply stopped sending out expiration notices, because the law did not require them to do so.
It seemed silly; people appreciate the notice. Most people renew. Sending out the notice might cost a dollar or two; the renewal fee is $43 for five years. There are nearly 400 thousand people who have the AZ CCW permit. If 75,000 of them renew each year, it would appear to be a net gain of three million dollars to the state. Some of that money would pay for the processing of the permits. Renewal permits take very little processing.
Dave said AZCDL might do something in the upcoming legislative session.
A few days ago, AZCDL sent out a notice requesting action on Arizona Senate Bill 1177. SB1177 requires the Department of Public Safety to send out notices of the pending expiration of CCW permits. Senator Gowan sponsored the legislation.
On February 1, 2022, SB1177 passed the Senate unanimously, with 29 votes. 1 Senator was not voting. It seems likely the bill will pass the House as well. It is a "common sense" measure.
The AZ CCW permit is not required to carry concealed in most places in Arizona. The permit is recognized in 36 other states. In Arizona, if you have the permit, you are not required to use the National Instant background Check System in order to purchase a firearm through an Federal Firearms License. The Department of Public Safety already did that for you.
This correspondent would prefer to repeal the National Firearms acts of 1934 and 1938; repeal the Gun Control Act of 1968, and the subsequent infringements on the Second Amendment such as the Lautenberg Amendment and other Constitutional atrocities. That may come, eventually. In the meantime, I and millions of others will find some utility in the carry permits issued by our state governments, even if those governments have restored Constitutional Carry or "permitless carry" if you prefer.
The primary mechanism for incremental restoration of our rights is the state activist organization, such as the AZCDL. It is amazing how many useful things can be accomplished by a few full time dedicated activists, backed up thousands of part time activists who have access to computer keyboards.
A few strokes on keyboards during the year does much to prevent tyranny from encroaching on our liberties.
SB 1177 has not passed into law; not yet. Without AZCDL, it would never have been given a chance.
The National Rifle Association is under severe attack. The state activist organizations have always been more responsive. Now, they are more important than ever before.
©2022 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.
Gun Watch
I thought paying a fee in order to exercise a right went out with poll taxes. Sadly the government still wants to make exercising your right to bear arms a rich man's game.
ReplyDeletecommon sense my A. there is no permit required in Arizona . that is why we are a second amendment state, open or concealed carry the last I heard. jerks infringing on the second amendment can go to the back of the line where the farts flow.
ReplyDeleteI do not need a permit to exercise any other federally guaranteed right why should I need a permit for self defense? the second amendment is what protects all of our federally guaranteed rights. only those behind bars don't need to carry for self defense. they earned their fear. I have as yet not needed to make an appointment to be attacked but I will surprise those that try.
ReplyDeleteThe bill of rights is a federal guarantee no state has the authority to infringe on a federal guaranteed right. there is no constitutional authority to charge a fee to exercise a right. if it is not written it does not exist. no right requires a permit and rights can not be taxed therefore there are no valid state laws that require permits to carry. It qualifies those laws as a unconstitutional denial of a constitutional guaranteed right ad is subject to ma thousands of law suits for a cap of 15 million dollars for each violation.
ReplyDeleteI did not study law to ignore what is written. It would not hurt for others to read enough law to understand why we have laws and the process to change laws. the society I grew up in since I was very young is being destroyed by liberals. It has been a very slow and calculated process and is getting very close to completion. We continually hear our democracy is being destroyed from the liberals. WE HAVE NEVER BEEN A DEMOCRRACY1! our Constitutional Republic was established in 1789with the ratification of our federal constitution that is the Supreme Law of this nation. ALL state constitutions must comply with the federal constitution. That is the prime reason we have a Supreme Court. To hold states accountable for passing unconstitutional laws and to resolve differences between the individual states. Many decades ago the U. S. Supreme Court ruled, just to make it clear to all states, that federally guaranteed rights cross all state lines because we are first citizens of this country and secondly residents of the state we reside in. Our Constitution has no force or effect out side of our national borders and those guaranteed rights are only protected for legal American Citizens. Liberals wouldpreferthat any one from any where be allowed to vote for OUR representation. mail ballots to any one anywhere in the would and let foreigners select our government officials because we are just not intelligent enough to make those decisions. well stupid you get what you vote for if you want foreigners running this country and making those decisions for you. Prove you have a right to vote as a citizen. any one attempting to stop a legal citizen from voting should be jailed. and those voting illegally should be deported. there is NO authority for government to collect our taxes to be spent on non citizens. are we going to keep this nation for ourselves or let liberals give it away? I do believe it will require another civil war to restore the constitution to its gull glory and power. I may be too old to accomplish much but I will be holding on to my firearms until they have to pry my cold dead fingers off the trigger. I may request to be buried face down so that liberal gun grabbers can kiss my ass.
ReplyDelete