The Secretary’s Desk

Cindy Hale                                         HaleWest@aol.com

The Arizona Arms Association along with Daniel Dewey and the NRA Field Support Team work together to enhance development and support young shooters. In January we received a very nice letter from a lovely young lady. It reads:

AZ Arms Association:

Thank you for your collaboration with the Southern Arizona NRA Field Support Team. Because of you I received a check for one thousand dollars credited to my trust account at the Olympic Center. The money has enabled my dad and me to buy new skeet machines that throw the best targets.

As a result I have improved steadily in my shooting. At the 2004 National Championships I was the Junior Ladies Silver Metalist and at the 2004 Junior Olympics I was Junior Ladies Silver Metalist. Because of my placement at the Junior Olympics I have been promoted onto the National Development Team from the National Junior Olympic Shotgun Team. My advancement is amazing, I can hardly believe it. I’m giving the other ladies a run for their money. Thank you for your support, I greatly appreciate it.

Thank you,

Emily S. Blount
USA Shooting National Development Team.

Emily S. Blount  - USA Shooting National Development Team

We were saddened to learn that one of our long time life members, Richard “Dick” Schwartzer passed away Friday March 11, 2005. Dick was a true collector of a large variety of collectables including western memorabilia, but primarily antique Colt firearms. Dick leaves behind his wife Jan who accompanied him to shows the last couple of years and a son and daughter. He will be missed.

Our treasurer, Peggy Szoke was called away suddenly to Atlanta when she received the news that her brother passed away on March 11th. We send her our sympathy and sincere condolences to the entire family.

New Book:
Defensive Use of Firearms

One of our members, Stephen P. Wenger has recently published a book, titled Defensive Use of Firearms.  The book addresses the reality and practicality of using a firearm for self-defense.

One aspect of that reality is that the software takes higher precedence than the hardware. Hardware is discussed but it is discussed in terms of practicality on the street or in the home, not on the shooting range. The five core chapters on mental awareness, mental preparedness, tactics, skills and choice of equipment are preceded by a chapter on safety with firearms and followed by a chapter on legal issues. A glossary is included, for the reader who may be new to the world of firearms. The foreword was graciously provided by Bert DuVernay, former director of the Smith & Wesson Academy.

The book is intended for the gun owner who has realized that mere ownership of a firearm does not convey protection. It will be of particular interest to those who are engaged in or are contemplating legal concealed carry of a handgun. While primarily oriented toward the handgun, the book contains some material about the defensive use of long guns, further expanding its relevance to home defense. The chapters on tactics and skills include numerous line drawings to aid the reader's grasp of the concepts described.

The book offers the reader a set of principles, tactics and techniques distilled from hundreds of hours of the author’s training, which includes certification as a law-enforcement handgun, shotgun, patrol rifle and tactical shooting instructor.

5 1/2 x 8 1/2-inch softcover, 120 pages, 28 illustrations and photos

At this time the book is only available from the author (autographed copies) or directly from Paladin Press. It will be several more months before Paladin will release the book to mass dealers, such as Amazon.com.

Only $20.00 plus shipping. For further information go to http://www.spw-duf.info/book.html.

-Cindy

Friends,

We need to engage in a concerted effort to get many letters to the editor in favor of SB 1363 to local papers. Senator Huppenthal feels that this is particularly critical. He voluntarily decided to take a lead role in supporting the bill. He reports that he is now under serious attack in his district because of his efforts on our behalf. This is the second time that he has specifically requested that we get the letters to the papers to show that ordinary people want to be able to defend themselves while dining out with the family.

It is not common, but he has requested that the letters be sent to him via email so he can take a look at them. He will then send them back with his comments, if any. The more we can get to him, the better he will feel about what he is doing. His email address is jhuppent@azleg.state.az.us. Please have the person writing the letter refer to my name and his request for letters.

Please take a few minutes to compose a brief letter to the editor and send it to the Senator (this request includes all of you). Also, it would be very much appreciated if you would send a note to your friends asking them to do the same. The bill will be up for a vote in the full Senate some time early next week so this is a perfect time for the campaign.

The Senator has asked that we focus on restaurants, not the other establishments included under the bill because of the inability to legally distinguish between them and the places where we dine.

Here are some points that I believe letters should target (obviously, not all can be included):

1) The legislation is about a citizen's ability to defend himself and his family while dining out. This includes areas inside and outside of the establishment. These places are not immune from violence.

2) Criminals intent on committing violence are already carrying in all of these establishments. Like with other self-defense legislation, SB 1363 simply allows the good citizens to be on at least an even playing field.

3) Citizens should not be required to store their firearms in their vehicles while dining at a restaurant. Arizona has historically had one of the highest auto theft rates in the country. If a vehicle with a gun stored in it is stolen or burgled, it's another gun that falls into criminal hands. No gun owners want to contribute to this problem. Allow them to maintain custody of their firearms while dining in these establishments.

4) The media will never learn. It has consistently predicted chaos if gun-rights legislation is enacted. This was the case with the concealed weapons law in 1994, local law preemption in 2000 and many other pieces of legislation over the years. Its predictions always fail to come to fruition. Nothing will change if SB 1363 is enacted. When will the media learn from its mistakes and begin to trust the law-abiding citizenry?

5) The proposal in Arizona is not breaking new ground. 33 states have similar laws. Most are more liberal than what is proposed in SB 1363. The opponents of the legislation cannot point to any problems in any of these states (they've been challenged to do so for three years now). There have been no efforts to repeal any of these laws. There have been no violent outbreaks by citizens legally carrying firearms, there have been no increases in insurance premiums for property owners etc. The experience in Arizona will not be the exception to this rule. Arizona's elected officials should trust their constituents not to be the exception.

6) Property owners are allowed to post their property to prohibit firearms if they choose. This is similar to the action all other private property owners in Arizona must take in order to prohibit firearms.

7) SB 1363 is the very essence of private property rights, contrary to what the opponents argue. It provides a choice to property owners -- whether to allow law-abiding citizens to carry self-defense firearms. The return of this choice is the return of property rights taken by the state in the 1970s.

8) Opponents contend that the current law prohibiting firearms is ideal. There is no doubt that violent criminals agree. Without SB 1363, they will continue to be the only ones armed in these establishments. Current law provides them with a safe working environment.

Of course, there are many others that can be included.

Thanks in advance for your efforts to make this campaign a success.

Darren LaSorte
NRA-ILA

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Important Arizona BillS

HB 2325 is more than just a bill that creates lifetime CCW permits. It reduces the training requirement to 8 hours - more inline with the overwhelming majority of CCW states and especially the 29 states that AZ recognizes. Do you realize that millions of visitors to AZ can carry legally but jump through far fewer hoops to get a CCW than Arizonans do? Why do Arizona citizens get second class treatment? HB 2325 goes a long way towards correcting that. A lifetime CCW also means no more onerous hoops to jump through for renewal.

For those of you worried about reciprocity/recognition, HB2325 requires a background check every 5 years. Rep. Gray has determined that only a couple of Eastern states won't recognize AZ permits any longer.

Arizona's SB 1271, the bill to facilitate true firearm safety training in public schools passed the state senate and is now in the House. Please contact both of your state representatives to support this bill. The NRA reports: Gun Safety In Arizona Schools Moves One Step Closer

SB 1271, a bill establishing a voluntary, semester-long course in firearms safety and proficiency for students in public and charter schools, passed the Senate K-12 Education Committee by a vote of 8-0. This is one more step in the right direction to help improve gun safety in Arizona. Please contact your state senator and ask him to support SB 1271 when it is considered on the full Senate floor. You can find contact information for your Representative by using the "Write Your Representatives" tool at http://www.nraila.org/.

This gun was manufactured for the U.S. Army from 1875 to 1889. Only 25,000 to 30,000 guns were produced. Originally chambered for the .44 Remington CF, then the mainstream caliber of .44/40, and also with the extremely scarce chambering of .45.

Come to our Mesa Show at Centennial Hall - April 9-10th! There will be a general membership meeting Saturday following the show.  Call Mark Stewart to reserve your tables. 520-240-0445

Cowboy Humor

"A bronc rider should be light in the head and heavy in the seat." 

"Broke is what happens when a cowboy lets his yearnin's get ahead of his earnin's." 

Cowboy tales are like taffy... The more you stretch them, the better they are.

"Any cowboy can carry a tune. The trouble comes when he tries to unload it." 

2005 ARIZONA GUN SHOWS

March 12-13

Murphy’s Gun Show

Yuma

Show Director: 208 324-9644

March 18-19-20

International Custom Knife Show

Parada Expo, Scottsdale

Director: Paul Basch - 479 752-2728

March 19-20

Camp Verde - Gun & Knife Show

Community Center

Contact: 928 567-0535

April 2-3

Crossroads of the West

Pima Co. Fairgrounds  - Tucson

Contact: 801 544-9125

April 2-3

Murphy’s Gun Show

Kingman

Show Director: 208 324-9644

April 9-10

Arizona Arms Assoc.

Centennial Hall - Mesa

Show Director: Mark - 520 240-0445

April 16-17

Firing Pin Enterprises

Lake Havasu                    

Contact: Dave Morse - 602 275-1623

April 23-24

Crossroads of the West

State Fairgrounds - Phoenix

Director: Bob Templeton - 801 544-9125

April 23-24

Roadrunner

Phoenix

Show Director: Lori - 602 843-5303

April 30- May 1

Roadrunner

Convention Center - Tucson

Show Director: Lori - 602 843-5303

May 14-15

Crossroads of the West

Pima Co. Fairgrounds  - Tucson

Director: Bob Templeton - 801 544-9125

May 14-15

Roadrunner

Convention Center - Glendale

Show Director: Lori - 602 843-5303

June 18-19

Arizona Arms Assoc.

Coconino Co. Fairgrounds - Flagstaff

Show Director: Mark - 520 240-0445

July 16-17

Arizona Arms Assoc.

Rodeway Inn Grant Rd - Tucson

Show Director: Walt - 520 298-0422

"We should establish shooting galleries in all the large public and military schools, should maintain national target ranges in different parts of the country, and should in every way encourage the formation of rifle clubs throughout all parts of the land. The little Republic of Switzerland offers us an excellent example in all matters connected with building up an efficient citizen soldiery."

- Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919)
Sixth Annual Message to Congress (December 6, 1906)

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