Despite outrage from bar and restaurant owners, the state Senate wants to allow people to bring firearms into any business that has a liquor license.
The state Senate passed the bill last week and it now moves to the House for approval. If passed there it would have to be signed by Gov. Janet Napolitano to become law.
"The constitution clearly says the people have the right to bear arms," said Sen. Jack W. Harper, R-Surprise, who introduced the bill.
Allowing firearms in establishments that serve alcohol is a way for people to protect themselves against criminals who already have weapons, Harper said.
"You don't know now who has guns," he said.
Not everyone in the Senate was in favor of the bill.
Sen. Harry E. Mitchell, D-Tempe, said he voted against it because the firearm laws are working well and there is no reason to change them.
"I don't think it's a good idea to approve guns in bars," he said. "Hopefully the governor will veto it,"
The bill stipulates that anyone carrying a firearm cannot enter a bar or restaurant and then consume alcohol unless the firearm is part of a display, meeting or event.
The law would not prohibit someone from drinking alcohol before they entered a bar or restaurant with a gun.
Bar owners who don't want guns on their premises may post a sign displaying the city ordinance number for prohibiting firearms.
Businesses could take legal action against any individual who does not observe the sign.
"They would be allowed to call the police and arrest them," Harper said.
The sign prohibiting firearms does not need to show anything other than the city ordinance number because, "the people that want to bring guns into restaurants know the issue," Harper said.
Scott Adams is one of the owners of McDuffy's, a sports bar in Tempe, and said this bill could hurt his industry.
"It really makes you lose faith in your elected officials," he said.
Adams said very few people will understand the law and he'll have to work hard to make his bar safe.
"I never feel alcohol and guns are a good mix," he said. "I can't believe no one has the balls or backbone to fight [the bill]."
Adams belongs to the Arizona Restaurant and Hospitality Association, which has lobbied against the bill since it was proposed.
A similar sentiment came from Cole Hickman, president of ASU's Young Democrats, who said he was "pretty sure" the governor would not support the bill.
Hickman said there was no reason to allow firearms in a bar or restaurant.
"Stupid people who are not stable will bring guns into bars," he said.
Jared Sandella, president of ASU's College Republicans, disagreed. He said if people know that others had guns then "shootouts" would be unlikely.
However, Sandella said the signs prohibiting firearms should be more explicit and say "no weapons or guns."
Sandella said he is a gun owner but would not bring his gun into a restaurant or bar.
"I don't see a reason to bring my own gun but I should have the freedom to," he said.
Reach the reporter at michael.famiglietti@asu.edu.
