8/30/2010

Proxying for People Carrying Concealed Handguns When There Are No Longer Permits

The new law eliminates the requirement for training, but a lot more people are going through training. I think that it shows how seriously people take this obligation to carry concealed handguns.

Firearms have been a hot topic in Arizona in recent months as several laws loosening gun regulations were recently enacted.
And while it is too early to discern whether those laws, particularly SB 1108, which makes it legal for citizens 21 and older to carry a concealed weapon without a permit, will make things more difficult or dangerous from a law enforcement standpoint, Arizona Game and Fish officials said shooting training is on the rise.
Ben Avery Shooting Range, which is on the border of north Peoria and Phoenix and is the largest outdoor range in the Valley and one of the largest in the country. It had perhaps its best statistical year ever in the 2009-2010 fiscal year, said Doug Burt, a public information officer for Arizona Game and Fish.
The range experienced more “shooting days,” which measure the number of individual visits to the range, not the number of different visitors, last fiscal year than any previous year. About 200,000 shooting days were recorded, marking a 5-10 percent increase from the previous fiscal year.
“That’s pretty significant. I know we’ve had some good years the last couple years at Ben Avery. Our shooting program has been growing,” Burt said.
Despite several new laws in Arizona that went into effect July 29, including SB 1108, range officials said they’ve seen little sign of drop-offs in shooting days at Ben Avery.
“Nothing could be further from the truth. We’ve seen an increase in people coming out here,” said Mike Morgan, a shooting instructor and range master with Game and Fish. “You’re still going to have people who realize they need to be knowledgeable. There are a lot of user groups who come and use the facility.” . . .

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5 Comments:

Blogger Not Available said...

This is likely due to people wanting to carry in other states. They need the AZ license for that.

8/30/2010 11:02 AM  
Blogger Tim Bolin said...

it doesnt necessarily follow that "more trips to the range" = "serious attitude towards concealed carry obligation"...

it may just be that with increased civilian interest in and ownership of handguns, more people are discovering that shooting is just... fun. its like darts. except darts dont go "BOOMboomBOOMboomBOOMboomBOOM!" :)

i expect youll see IDPA and IPSC participation increase in arizona as well, for much the same reason... recreational shooting is a good time and a fun hobby.

8/30/2010 1:35 PM  
Blogger TooMuchTime said...

it doesnt necessarily follow that "more trips to the range" = "serious attitude towards concealed carry obligation"...


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I'm more inclined to believe it does. At a range, there are strick rules to which you must adhere. The more times you visit, the more those rules become part of your normal handgun safety routine, on and off the range.

And if you take your children, they will see you and the other adults showing responsibility and firearm safety. That's likely to stay with them.

8/30/2010 10:11 PM  
Blogger Tim Bolin said...

@toomuchtime

you misunderstand me. im not saying more time at the range doesnt lead to a more serious commitment... im saying you it doesnt necessarily go the OTHER direction. i dont think you can draw the conclusion that more people are carrying arms because theres more time being spent at the range.

i know lots (LOTS) of people who go to the range several times a month, and participate in recreational competitive shooting, that dont carry on a regular (or even irregular) basis. they view shooting as a sport, not as something that particularly informs their politics, normal behavior, or way of life.

it may indeed be the case that the increased activity at ranges in arizona is in fact because more people are carrying now that constitutional carry passed. but i dont think it *necessarily follows* that that is the case. there are plenty of other reasons that could account for it, not the least of which a mere fluctuation. could be next year range traffic is way down. probably not but... you get what im saying? A doesnt imply B, and all that.

9/01/2010 11:15 PM  
Blogger Rail Claimore said...

It also touches on another point. A lot of firearms instructors have a vested interest in making sure people must be trained in order to obtain a carry permit. Why take away a source of their revenue? I have a feeling that Constitutional Carry will have trouble passing in states that have a state-approved training requirement for this very reason; especially those that have no unlicensed open-carry option, such as Texas.

9/04/2010 3:32 AM  

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