HB 2291 would create a new voluntary firearm restriction option in Arizona law. It amends the definition of “prohibited possessor” to include a person who voluntarily asks to be treated as one under a new section, and it establishes a court-maintained voluntary prohibited possessor list. A person could submit a request form either through a law enforcement agency or through a health care provider, and the court would then place the person on the list and prohibit firearm purchase or possession for 180 days, with the option to extend the restriction or request removal after 30 days.
The bill also requires the court to develop the form and process, post the form publicly, and forward the person’s firearm ineligibility to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. The request form would collect identifying information and include an acknowledgment that the person understands the firearm restriction, the temporary suspension of any concealed weapons permit, and the ability to seek removal after 30 days. When the person is removed from the list or the 180-day period ends, the law enforcement agency and court must destroy related records within five days.
Impact
HB 2291 would change Arizona’s weapons laws by adding a new category of prohibited possessor based on voluntary self-restriction, and by creating a court-administered list to track those requests. It would affect firearm purchasers, firearm owners, courts, law enforcement agencies, health care providers involved in submitting forms, and the background-check system used for firearm sales. The bill would also temporarily suspend concealed weapons permits for listed individuals and require record destruction after removal from the list.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee discussion or votes in the provided materials, the bill appears to be framed as a public-safety and self-protection measure rather than a punitive one. Its structure suggests support for a temporary, reversible option for people who want to prevent themselves from buying or possessing firearms during a period of heightened risk. No formal sentiment can be inferred from committee testimony or roll-call votes because none were provided.
Contention
The main points of contention likely concern the policy and practical implications of a voluntary firearm prohibition. Supporters would likely emphasize suicide prevention, crisis intervention, and giving individuals a tool to block impulsive gun access. Potential concerns include how the voluntary list would be administered, privacy and confidentiality of records, the role of health care providers in the submission process, the automatic reporting to NICS, and the effect on concealed weapons permits. Another possible issue is whether the 30-day minimum and 180-day default restriction strike the right balance between safety and individual rights.