Governor Jan Brewer vetoed a pair of pro-gun bills, just a few days after she signed two other pro-gun bills.
The two she vetoed yesterday were House Bill 2339 and House Bill 2517. The first was another version of a bill she's vetoed before, which would have allowed people to carry concealed weapons into public buildings under certain circumstances. The other bill would have made tougher penalties for counties and cities that try to make their own gun regulations that are illegal under state law.
See also:
-Arizona Legislature Passes Five Gun-Related Bills
Although state law already includes many prohibitions on counties and cities making their own gun regulations, including the gun-buyback programs that were popular in Phoenix, this bill creates penalties for violating those laws, like a $5,000 fine against the government official whose agency violated the laws, and calls for their firing, among other things.
HB 2339 would have allowed concealed carry permit-holders to take their weapon inside any public establishment, excluding buildings with security guards that screen everyone for weapons, as well as educational institutions. It did not, however "limit, restrict or prohibit the existing rights of a private property owner, private tenant, private employer or private business entity."
Brewer's always been a pro-gun governor, but most legislators seem to have been much more pro-gun than Brewer during her terms.
Just last week, she signed into law two other bills related to guns.
House Bill 2483 prevents cities or counties from "regulat[ing], through a zoning ordinance, the otherwise lawful discharge of a firearm or maintenance or improvements directly related to the discharge, on a private lot or parcel of land that is not open to the public on a commercial or membership basis" -- essentially legalizing backyard shooting, as long as the next house isn't too close to the shooter's property. However, it includes stipulations that you can't be negligent or be found to be a "nuisance" if you're shooting on your property.
The other she signed into law, House Bill 2103, lowers the concealed-carry weapon age to 19 (from 21) for military personnel.
In addition to the four bills Brewer has acted on, there are still two more gun-related bills that need her signature: HB 2338 and HB 2336.
HB 2338 makes taking someone's gun a specific crime, a someone else's gun from them, but this bill makes it a specific crime: a class-four (one being the highest, six being the lowest) felony, although stealing someone's firearm was already a crime.
HB 2336 would prevent police from carrying a firearm while they're consuming alcohol at any licensed liquor establishment.
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