SB 1214

I had President's Day off, so I spent half the day at work, and the other half at the state capital listening to testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on SB 1214. This is a bill going through the senate that would allow concealed weapons permit holders (CCW) to carry a gun concealed on all school campuses in the state. For a gun geek and political junkie, I actually had fun at this (yeah, yeah, make all your jokes now.)

Senator Karen Johnson sits on the Judiciary Committee, and is a sponsor of the bill. I always see her name attached to pro-gun bills, and am even more impressed after seeing her challenge some of the people opposed to the bill. Ron Gould also did a good job challenging the anti's, and Chairman Chuck Gray seemed to do a good job allowing both sides to be heard.

Testimony started with those opposed to the bill. First up were the litany of police chiefs, from the Arizona Chief of Police Association, NAU, ASU, and U of A. They gave the standard police chief line... guns on campus will slow police response down because they will have to check every gun, guns could be stolen on campus, etc. Chairman Gray asked every chief what their response time would be. All said somewhere between 3 to 5 minutes. The senators pointed out that in almost no school shootings have the police arrived in time to stop the gunman. The spokesman for the Arizona Fraternal Order of Police was even more hysterical. He imagined CCW holders having gunfights at football games, gunmen targeting teachers first, and others I didn't write down. Basically painted CCWs at raving lunatics who shoot people at the drop of a hat. Senator Gould asked him if he could cite any instance where a CCW holder had pulled a gun on another parent. He could not. Next up was the spokesperson for the West Valley Chiefs of Police. He was also opposed. After citing his reasons, Senator Johnson asked him if he had taken an oath to uphold the constitution. Yes. Does the constitution include a right to bear arms? Yes. Again, Senator Johnson is awesome.

After the police chiefs were the ladies from Arizonans for Gun Safety. Talk about out there. The first was appalled that this bill even was being heard in committee. Her solution to gun violence in schools was metal detectors at all schools, additional police at all schools, more psychological counselors, and all gun purchasers must pass a psychological evaluation. Who pays for all this? Taxpayers of course, with a special fee levied on CCW holders. The second lady was sure that devious little children would somehow steal guns from their teachers and shoot their fellow students. Senator Johnson pointed out that from 1977-95 there were 15 school schootings, with 19 dead. In 1995 alone, the year that the Gun Free Schools Act passed, there were 5 shootings. So the laws prohibiting guns obviously did not make schools the safe havens these ladies imagine.

The young man from Young Democrats of Arizona claimed that all the students and teachers in AZ were opposed to this bill. Contradicted later by students and a teacher who testified in favor of the bill. He also stated that a place saturated with guns can be more dangerous that without guns. His evidence? His time in Iraq with the National Guard. There might be a few differences between Iraq and the US other than the number of guns.

Next up were those supporting the bill. Unlike the antis, who mainly represented police chief organizations, city governments, or anti gun groups, most of those supporting the bill represented only themselves. There was passionate support from a former Mesa police officer, and now high school history teacher. Also another teacher who pointed out that the current response plan for teachers is to huddle their students in the corner and HOPE the gunman doesn't come into the classroom. All she wants is the chance to fight back. Several college students testified.. one who has been mugged twice at U of A, one who has had several friends raped at U of A, one who has a CCW but can't carry on campus. All said they just wanted to have the right to defend themselves. In all, some 18 people testified for the bill, and addressed every issue that the police chiefs and worried women raised.

Like I said, as a political junkie and gun nut, I was fascinated. Unfortunately the committee did not vote because one senator was missing. Hopefully they pass the bill from committee, then the senate and house. Of course, I imagine the chances of the Governor signing it are slim to none.