I have tried to mention many of the laws that have been changed or proposed that are of significant importance. But, I know I have missed more then a few, especially local ones here in Arizona.
Newly signed in laws, within the past year, for Arizona:
---SB 1258 -- Affects A.R.S. §26-303. Prohibits the Governor, or Adjutant General, from confiscating lawfully held firearms, ammunition or their components during a state of emergency, specifically invoking federal and state constitutional guarantees. This important limit has been placed on many officials nationwide, after highly publicized abusive confiscations in Louisiana following hurricane Katrina. Specifically, emergency powers, "shall not be construed to allow the imposition of additional restrictions on the lawful possession, transfer, sale, transportation, carrying, storage, display or use of firearms or ammunition or firearms or ammunition components." Authorities can, however, move large supplies of ammo ("stores of ammunition") "out of the way of dangerous conditions." The governor had previously refused to sign this common-sense bill because, she said, it would prevent moving an ammo stockpile during a forest fire. AZCDL added the language to neutralize that excuse, which lead to the law's passage. CH101
Gotta like this one...so, just a Katrina, the government cannot legally disarm us.
---HB 2469 -- Affects A.R.S. §13-3112. Reduces the penalty for not carrying your CCW permit with you to a petty offense (from the current Class 2 misdemeanor). It also restricts the application of the law to concealed-weapons-permit holders, and clarifies that permit holders can only be charged if they are carrying a concealed weapon when they fail to present their permit at the request of a law enforcement officer. If, on appearing in court after being cited for failure to have your permit with you, you produce a legible permit that was valid at the time of the violation, you "shall not be convicted." CH45
This one is another big one. What happens if you forget your wallet/purse in your car or home and you are out and about when the officer confronts you? Previously, your license was revoked. This gives good, honest people a chance to redeem themselves for a silly mistake.
---May 15, 2006: The Castle Doctrine and Burden of Proof laws were clarified and strengthened, and with the Emergency Clause, they went into effect when they were signed in April. Also, the two-hour CCW renewal class was eliminated (though permits must still be renewed every five years), and all legally issued state firearm permits will now be recognized in Arizona, with minor conditions.
---Arizona has dropped its reciprocity approach to out-of-state permits and adopted a recognition scheme. Under the new deal, spelled out in HB2074, Arizona will recognize a valid firearm permit from any state if it was legally issued by that state, the person is not an Arizona resident and is legally in Arizona, and the person is not a prohibited possessor
There are a ton of minor changes to wording, clarification, but I thought these were the good ones.
