Bill would let permit holders carry concealed handguns in Arizona restaurants and shield owners from penalties

The act amends section 4-229 to allow carrying a concealed handgun on the premises of a restaurant licensed under section 4-205.02. It covers people with a concealed carry permit under section 13-3112 and restaurants licensed under section 4-205.02 that have no other license attached to the premises. The person may not consume spirituous liquor on the licensed premises. The printing also lists exceptions in section 4-244 for restaurant premises, which let a permit holder who does not drink be armed without making the licensee or employee break the liquor law.

The act amends section 4-210 to limit the director's power to discipline restaurant licensees over concealed handguns. It covers restaurant licensees under section 4-205.02 and their employees. A person carrying a concealed handgun on the premises is presumed to be doing so legally, and the restaurant or its employees need not verify compliance. A restaurant also has no duty to intervene or call law enforcement when it reasonably believes a concealed handgun is being carried legally. A serious act of violence caused by a concealed handgun is not grounds against a restaurant unless an employee knew the person was carrying and knowingly served the person liquor for immediate drinking.

The act amends sections 4-311 and 4-229 on liability and on signs that ban weapons. It covers on-sale retailers (bars and restaurants) and people injured by a concealed handgun on their premises. Liability is limited "notwithstanding any other law." An on-sale retailer may post a sign that bans weapons; carrying a firearm after the sign is posted is a violation, subject to listed defenses such as an unseen or fallen sign, a nonresident, or a sign posted not more than thirty days earlier. The violation for carrying in the sign's presence is a class 3 misdemeanor.