SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE March 2, 2000 1:39 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Robin Taylor, Chairman Senator Rick Halford, Vice-Chairman MEMBERS ABSENT Senator Dave Donley Senator John Torgerson Senator Johnny Ellis COMMITTEE CALENDAR Department of Public Safety Overview on Concealed Handgun Permits PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION No previous action to report. WITNESS REGISTER Mr. Del Smith, Deputy Commissioner Department of Public Safety PO Box 111200 Juneau, Alaska 99811-1200 POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on Concealed Handgun Permits & Reciprocity. Lieutenant David Ray Hudson Division of Operations Alaska State Troopers 5700 East Tudor Road Anchorage, Alaska 99507 POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on Concealed Handgun Permits & Reciprocity. Mr. Brian Judy National Rifle Association Alaska State Liaison 555 Capitol Mall, Suite 455 Sacramento, California 95814 POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on Concealed Handgun Permits & Reciprocity. Mr. Joe Nava, Instructor National Fifle Association 469 NRA Lane Fairbanks, Alaska 99709 POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on Concealed Handgun Permits & Reciprocity. ACTION NARRATIVE TAPE 00-10, SIDE A Number 001 CHAIRMAN ROBIN TAYLOR called the Judiciary Committee meeting to order at 1:39 p.m. and announced the Committee is holding a special hearing to do an overview with the Department of Public Safety on the concealed weapon permit review of recipiocity. Senator Halford and Chairman Taylor were present for the work session. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER DEL SMITH, Department of Public Safety (DPS), introduced Lieutenant David Hudson of the Alaska State Troopers. MR. SMITH stated that the first overview issue indicates that when people are stopped for traffic violations and they are not carrying a concealed handgun, they are being hassled for not disclosing to the officer that they are a concealed handgu permit holder. He is not aware of this happening and is hoping it is not happening. If a person is not carrying a weapon they do not have to reveal that they have a weapon. The law is clear on when a person has to reveal they have a license. CHAIRMAN TAYLOR asked if permit information comes up on a screen in the trooper cars so the officer will be alerted when they have stopped someone for a violation. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER SMITH replied that there are not any screens in the trooper cars but dispatch can tell the trooper if the person he has stopped is a concealed weapons carrier. CHAIRMAN TAYLOR asked if the first question the officer is likely to ask is "are you carrying or not." DEPUTY COMMISSIONER SMITH answered that if the officer asked that question first he would not be in a position to charge the person with failure to reveal this information. CHAIRMAN TAYLOR asked if there have been any problems since the law was enacted. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER SMITH revealed there has only been one incident since the program was enacted. There have been people who have been revoked for various reasons, but it did not involve the use of a concealed weapon. Number 76 SENATOR HALFORD asked if a peace officer who has a DV conviction can carry a weapon. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER SMITH answered that the right to carry a weapon would be suspended under federal law. CHAIRMAN TAYLOR stated he would like to know how many Alaska peace officers have been told they cannot carry their weapons because of a DV order that is now required by federal law. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER SMITH spoke to the second overview issue of fingerprints. DPS has come to the conclusion that there is no way they can get around collecting a thumb print because the statute required it but in the future DPS would entertain some change in this. Thunbprints are being collected now as quick as possible so the renewal process is not slowed down but this is proving problematic. Concealed carry permit holders are required by statute to renew their permit every five years. Legislators have been receiving numerous complaints that the renewal process is taking much longer than the time frame provided in statute--this is correct, DPS is behind. The department is working overtime trying to keep up because they do not want people to have an expired permit. CHAIRMAN TAYLOR asked if a notice could not just be sent out notifying people their permit comes due at a certain time and they can apply beginning on such and such a date. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER SMITH responded that if he could find a cheap way to do this he would. It may have to be considered in the future to avoid the overtime costs. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER SMITH noted that in 1998, DPS and the state of Alaska recognized seventeen state permits from the lower 48.