https://tucson.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/lawmakers-move-to-allow-guns-in-more-places/article_cecbece8-9b1f-11ec-a846-e71b1d9e9ab8.html
PHOENIX — A Senate panel voted Thursday to allow more people in Arizona to carry guns into more places.
On a party-line vote, with Republicans in the majority, the Judiciary Committee approved permitting loaded weapons on school campuses as long as they remain in a vehicle.
Backers of HB 2414 say that it’s designed to ensure that parents driving on to school grounds to pick up their kids don’t have to first stop and unload their weapons. Michael Infanzon, lobbyist for the Arizona Citizens Defense League, said most accidents occur when people load and unload their weapons.
That carried no weight with Sen. Martin Quezada, D-Glendale.
“If you can’t keep your gun from discharging by doing something as simple as loading and unloading it, you shouldn’t be carrying a gun,” he said. “And the last place you should be carrying a gun is on a school campus.”
But the measure, which already has been approved by the House, involves more than just a parent driving into the parking lot. As worded, it also permits adults to stash their weapons in cars parked on campuses provided the vehicle is locked and the weapon is out of sight.
Separately, and by the same 5-3 party-line vote, the committee said anyone with a state permit to carry a concealed weapon can bring it into any government building and ignore any “no firearms” signs on the door.
HB 2316 has built-in exceptions for places like schools and courts.
It would allow cities, counties and state agencies to keep guns out — but only if each and every door had a metal detector and a security guard to ensure that no one is armed. And even then, they also would have to have lockers for people to store their weapons.
There are places that guns really don’t belong, ranging from the treasurer’s office to the administrative building where the county supervisors meet, Todd Madeksza, lobbyist for Coconino County, said. The option of keeping them gun-free zones with equipment and staffing is not an answer, he added, estimating it would take about $2 million to purchase the necessary equipment to cover all doors.
And that, said Madeksza assumes that the county could recruit the people to staff each of them.
“We are having trouble right now even recruiting sheriff’s deputies,” he told lawmakers.
But Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, who crafted the measure, said it’s foolish to assume that, absent some screening, that people honor what are supposed to be gun-free buildings. ..