.45acp
Regular Member
imported post
Today I drove up to Tucson Int’l Airport to pick up some elderly friends that were arriving, as customary (for me anyway) I OC’ed a 1911. Walking from the parking area to the baggage claim we passed a LEO directing traffic and pedestrians. Entered the baggage claim area and located the arrival area (B) and headed there. After standing about for a 3 or 4 minutes I walked back to the monitor to check the flight status and noticed the Traffic LEO speaking into his collar mic looking at me.I realized that the conversation was likely regarding me and my 1911, but I had checked the doors for “No weapons” posting before entering the baggage claim and was sure of my legal standing regarding carry at an airport so I went about my business. Shortly afterwards as I was heading to the coffee stand for a cup of Java a LEO on a bike pulled to a halt and asked if he could speak with me, “Sure” I replied, he said “I see that you are carrying a firearm”. I replied yes, that I had checked the doors for posting, and that there was no Arizona law or Federal law forbidding carry in an airport. He agreed except that in the case the airport asks that I “return the firearm to my vehicle”. I asked if I could cover as I had a CWP and he said no, underAZ law that they (the Air Port Authority) asks I return the weapon to my car. So I immediately agreed to comply, and reiterated that I had broken no law, to which he agreed.
I was all conducted with little fanfare and the officer was very polite, professional and made it clear he had no beef with me. The officer cited the following in his request that I return the weapon to my vehicle. In fact after I had returned from the parking lot and was retrieving baggage at the baggage claim the officer returned with a printed copy of the statue below and highlighted as below to show me the printed law. We talked for a few minutes and shook hands and we headed out of town.
13-3102. Misconduct involving weapons; defenses; classification; definitions
A. A person commits misconduct involving weapons by knowingly:
1. Carrying a deadly weapon without a permit pursuant to section 13-3112 except a pocket knife concealed on his person; or
2. Carrying a deadly weapon without a permit pursuant to section 13-3112 concealed within immediate control of any person in or on a means of transportation; or
3. Manufacturing, possessing, transporting, selling or transferring a prohibited weapon, except that if the violation involves dry ice, a person commits misconduct involving weapons by knowingly possessing the dry ice with the intent to cause injury to or death of another person or to cause damage to the property of another person; or
4. Possessing a deadly weapon or prohibited weapon if such person is a prohibited possessor; or
5. Selling or transferring a deadly weapon to a prohibited possessor; or
6. Defacing a deadly weapon; or
7. Possessing a defaced deadly weapon knowing the deadly weapon was defaced; or
8. Using or possessing a deadly weapon during the commission of any felony offense included in chapter 34 of this title; or
9. Discharging a firearm at an occupied structure in order to assist, promote or further the interests of a criminal street gang, a criminal syndicate or a racketeering enterprise; or
10. Unless specifically authorized by law, entering any public establishment or attending any public event and carrying a deadly weapon on his person after a reasonable request by the operator of the establishment or the sponsor of the event or the sponsor's agent to remove his weapon and place it in the custody of the operator of the establishment or the sponsor of the event for temporary and secure storage of the weapon pursuant to section 13-3102.01; or
I know that in Arizona, as in most states, the operators of an establishment have the prerogative to ask that you leave weapons outside; does this extend to the airports? As I am not a resident of Arizona and my permit is from my home state of Utah, I did not want to get in to a major pissing match in this case. My understanding was that the state pre emption of local laws regarding firearms would cover this situation. My question, does the Tucson Airport Authority have the right to ask you to leave your firearm in the vehicle as this officer asked of me, based upon the above statute?
I want to make it clear, that this officer acted in an exemplary manor, non confrontational with no theatrics, and that I believe that if he did act inappropriately by requesting that I leave the weapon in the car that he was acting under his interpretation or understanding of the law in this case.
What say you?
Thanks,
Steve
Today I drove up to Tucson Int’l Airport to pick up some elderly friends that were arriving, as customary (for me anyway) I OC’ed a 1911. Walking from the parking area to the baggage claim we passed a LEO directing traffic and pedestrians. Entered the baggage claim area and located the arrival area (B) and headed there. After standing about for a 3 or 4 minutes I walked back to the monitor to check the flight status and noticed the Traffic LEO speaking into his collar mic looking at me.I realized that the conversation was likely regarding me and my 1911, but I had checked the doors for “No weapons” posting before entering the baggage claim and was sure of my legal standing regarding carry at an airport so I went about my business. Shortly afterwards as I was heading to the coffee stand for a cup of Java a LEO on a bike pulled to a halt and asked if he could speak with me, “Sure” I replied, he said “I see that you are carrying a firearm”. I replied yes, that I had checked the doors for posting, and that there was no Arizona law or Federal law forbidding carry in an airport. He agreed except that in the case the airport asks that I “return the firearm to my vehicle”. I asked if I could cover as I had a CWP and he said no, underAZ law that they (the Air Port Authority) asks I return the weapon to my car. So I immediately agreed to comply, and reiterated that I had broken no law, to which he agreed.
I was all conducted with little fanfare and the officer was very polite, professional and made it clear he had no beef with me. The officer cited the following in his request that I return the weapon to my vehicle. In fact after I had returned from the parking lot and was retrieving baggage at the baggage claim the officer returned with a printed copy of the statue below and highlighted as below to show me the printed law. We talked for a few minutes and shook hands and we headed out of town.
13-3102. Misconduct involving weapons; defenses; classification; definitions
A. A person commits misconduct involving weapons by knowingly:
1. Carrying a deadly weapon without a permit pursuant to section 13-3112 except a pocket knife concealed on his person; or
2. Carrying a deadly weapon without a permit pursuant to section 13-3112 concealed within immediate control of any person in or on a means of transportation; or
3. Manufacturing, possessing, transporting, selling or transferring a prohibited weapon, except that if the violation involves dry ice, a person commits misconduct involving weapons by knowingly possessing the dry ice with the intent to cause injury to or death of another person or to cause damage to the property of another person; or
4. Possessing a deadly weapon or prohibited weapon if such person is a prohibited possessor; or
5. Selling or transferring a deadly weapon to a prohibited possessor; or
6. Defacing a deadly weapon; or
7. Possessing a defaced deadly weapon knowing the deadly weapon was defaced; or
8. Using or possessing a deadly weapon during the commission of any felony offense included in chapter 34 of this title; or
9. Discharging a firearm at an occupied structure in order to assist, promote or further the interests of a criminal street gang, a criminal syndicate or a racketeering enterprise; or
10. Unless specifically authorized by law, entering any public establishment or attending any public event and carrying a deadly weapon on his person after a reasonable request by the operator of the establishment or the sponsor of the event or the sponsor's agent to remove his weapon and place it in the custody of the operator of the establishment or the sponsor of the event for temporary and secure storage of the weapon pursuant to section 13-3102.01; or
I know that in Arizona, as in most states, the operators of an establishment have the prerogative to ask that you leave weapons outside; does this extend to the airports? As I am not a resident of Arizona and my permit is from my home state of Utah, I did not want to get in to a major pissing match in this case. My understanding was that the state pre emption of local laws regarding firearms would cover this situation. My question, does the Tucson Airport Authority have the right to ask you to leave your firearm in the vehicle as this officer asked of me, based upon the above statute?
I want to make it clear, that this officer acted in an exemplary manor, non confrontational with no theatrics, and that I believe that if he did act inappropriately by requesting that I leave the weapon in the car that he was acting under his interpretation or understanding of the law in this case.
What say you?
Thanks,
Steve