KOLD News 13New Arizona Gun law already in effect, many still confused

New Arizona Gun law already in effect, many still confused

By Mark Stine - email

TUCSON, AZ (KOLD) - The new Arizona Gun law, SB 1108, took effect on Thursday. There is some confusion on what the new law means to those who carry.

"I like to be able to carry my own weapon and be able to protect myself and my family."

Larry Denzler carries concealed.  He has an Arizona conceal and carry permit, but says he believes everyone has a right to carry.

"If they understand what a weapons all about and treat it as such, they can do it safely," Denzler said.

Before the new law went into effect, to carry concealed, you had to have an Arizona permit. Now, you don't.

"There are people who believe that this law trumped the older laws. No, that's not what happened," Vinson Holck explained.

Holck, with the Marksman Pistol institute, says one of the biggest confusions with this law, is that other gun laws have not changed.

"All that changed is they don't have to get a permit, but any law existing on the books right now, still stands, they must follow those laws," Holck told KOLD.

Holck also says, if an establishment has posted, no firearms allowed, you still have to leave your gun outside. "Even if it's not posted and a representative of the establishment comes out and says no firearms allowed, you must heed to that request."

This is Sasha Gewehr's second trip to the shooting range.  

"They're really scary at first, but once you get used to it, I think it's definitely worth it," Gewehr said.

She's just learning how to shoot, but when she starts carrying, she plans to have her gun concealed. And even though she doesn't have to with the new law, she says she would like to take a class.

Gewehr told KOLD, "I don't have a really definitive opinion on what everyone should do, but in my own opinion I would take the course just to be well informed about what I'm doing."

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