Oppose SB1012: Protect Business Property Rights and Public Safety

I urge you to oppose Senate Bill 1012, scheduled for consideration in the Senate Judiciary and Elections Committee this Friday. This legislation would fundamentally undermine property rights and create serious public safety concerns in Arizona establishments that serve alcohol. SB1012 reverses current law by forcing bars and restaurants to allow concealed carry on their premises unless they post specific signage prohibiting weapons. This shifts the burden from gun owners respecting business decisions to business owners actively opting out of a policy they never requested. Under section 4-229 as amended, establishments would need to post signs with precise specifications including a pictogram of a firearm within a red circle with a diagonal line, specific text citing Arizona Revised Statutes, and exact dimensions on 110 pound index weight paper. This creates administrative burdens and costs for businesses simply trying to maintain the safety standards they currently choose. The practical enforcement problems are severe. Restaurant and bar staff are not trained law enforcement officers. They cannot reasonably be expected to monitor whether armed patrons are consuming alcohol, yet section 4-244 maintains the prohibition on drinking while armed. Arizona already has some of the least restrictive gun laws in the nation. Adding firearms to environments where alcohol is served and consumed creates unnecessary risk. Property rights are fundamental to business operations. Owners should retain the right to determine whether firearms are permitted on their premises without being forced into a default position that many find unsafe. The current opt-in system respects both Second Amendment rights and property rights. SB1012 tips that balance entirely in one direction. I ask you to vote no on SB1012 in committee. Business owners deserve the right to set safety policies for their establishments without government mandates that compromise their judgment about protecting employees and customers.