Gun bills in the Arizona Legislature.

Gun-and-GavelThe legislative session began on the 13th and all bills must be submitted by February 10th. The Arizona Citizens Defense League has compiled a listing of gun bills currently in the legislative process.

Many are simply technical corrections to the language of the law.

HB 2103 would amend ARS 13-3112 to allow current military and veterans from age 19 on to obtain a concealed weapons permit in Arizona.

It changes section E. 1. to read, “2. Is twenty‑one years of age or older or is at least nineteen years of age and provides evidence of current military service or proof of honorable discharge or general discharge under honorable conditions from the United States armed forces, United States armed forces reserve or a state national guard.”

The bill is introduced by Representatives Townsend, Borrelli, Kwasman, Livingston, Mitchell, Petersen, Seel, Smith, Thorpe: Barton, Cardenas, Lovas, Shope

HB 2127—introduced by Representatives Pratt, Gowan, Shope and Senators Griffin, Pierce and McGuire—after some technical corrections would eliminate Section D. which would eliminate the restriction of game guides to a revolver or pistol. This would allow them to carry long guns.

HB 2132 was submitted by Representative Quezada would allow persons to automatically be restored the right to vote after the end of their probation or their absolute discharge from prison. Filing for the restoration of the right to bear arms does not change.

HB 2133 would amend Title 38 adding 38-202. This would require anyone applying for a peace officer position to provide proof of United States citizenship and would prevent a public officer from providing an application for that position to anyone who cannot prove United States citizenship.

This is obviously meant to prevent past discrepancies such as the Carmen Figueroa case. She did not realize that she was an illegal alien and may not have been required to carry a firearm. This is probably why she slipped through the system. Most people, however, are required to prove citizenship to purchase a firearm through the federal system.

SB1063 would require any public establishment or even to provide sutiable, secure storage facilities in compliance with 13-3102.01 if they do not allow firearms into their facility or event. This technical correction would allow gun owners to ignore the warning placards if the facility does not provide secure storage.

SB1064. The AZCDL assessment of this bill is:

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Under the expanding gas language in ARS 13-105.19, an air-operated pistol or rifle can be considered a firearm. This differs with ARS 13-3101.4, which uses action of an explosive to define a firearm. By having two definitions, law enforcement can cherry-pick the statute they want to apply.

The Professor is gone.

220px-Russell_Johnson_Black_Saddle_1960Russell Johnson, best known for his role as the Professor on Gilligan’s Island died today at his home in Washington. He died of natural causes with his wife and daughter at his side. He was 89.

Johnson began his career in 1950 as a sailor in the Fireside Theater production of A Man Without A Country. He had the role of Chopper in The Adventures of Superman in 1953 and appeared in various westerns and science fiction movies. He played Fletcher Christian in the You Are There presentation of Mr. Christian Seizes the Bounty.

He is best known for his role as high school science teacher Roy Hinckley which ran for three years but is popular in syndication today. The Memorable Entertainment network runs two episodes a night. The professor had to come up with various fixes to the equipment and create equipment for various applications. Ironically, he appeared in the popular MacGyver television series in 1986, but we’re not sure if he had to come up with any explosive devices from two bobby-pins and a can of hair spray.

According to a FOX News report, Johnson once quipped that the only thing he couldn’t figure out is how to fix the leaky boat so they could return to civilization.

Co-star Dawn Welles posted on her Facebook page:

My 2 favorite people are now gone. The Professor past away this morning. My heart is broken.

and

Russell was a true gentleman, a good father, a great friend, and “the rest”.
I love him and shall miss him. My heart goes out to Connie and his daughter Kim. I love you.

Dawn Welles and Tina Louise are the only surviving members of a group of misfit castaways marooned after a failed “three hour tour” which seems to show no sign of stopping in syndication. Probably the best tribute an actor can receive.

Diverse Women Battling Republican Stereotypes

harold-bushA bevy of smart, fresh-faced Republican women is running for Congress this year, shattering the stereotype that the political right is a bastion of old, white men.

They face enormous internal and external obstacles, yet their rise could help a GOP brand facing the lowest party identification among voters in at least a generation.

Women voted 55 percent for Democratic President Obama and just 44 percent for Republican Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential election, a figure on par with the 56 percent Obama received in 2008. What’s even more problematic for Republicans is that women made up about 54 percent of the electorate in 2012, so their margin is more meaningful than the pure nominal gender gap suggests.

Unfortunately some Democrats and other Republicans themselves are engaging in misogynistic attacks against female Republican candidates.Yet these women are forging ahead, well-positioned to carry the GOP through this election cycle and into Congress.

“The GOP did not have a broad enough discussion of the positive ways in which conservative principles impact women’s lives,” said Erika Harold, 33, an attorney and former Miss America battling incumbent Rep. Rodney Davis in the Republican primary for Illinois’ 13th congressional district. “[H]aving more female Republican members of Congress would enable the party to communicate more effectively with broader groups of voters and highlight the ways in which conservative principles further women’s economic interests.”

Ad attacking Arizona Candidate Martha McSally.

Read more at Forbes