An East Valley lawmaker and leading legislative proponent of easing state gun laws carries her weapon into the Senate building — an apparent violation of state law.

Sen. Karen Johnson, R-Mesa, made the admission Thursday to Capitol Media Services while explaining why she is pushing legislation to ease the penalty on those who carry a concealed weapon without getting the required state permit.

SB1629 gained final Senate approval on a 21-5 vote. It is now on the desk of Gov. Janet Napolitano, who has refused to say whether it will meet the same fate as a similar measure she vetoed last week.

Johnson said she personally believes that those who want to carry a gun not visible to others should go through the required training and background check. But she said those who don’t should not be subject to a six-month jail term, as the law currently allows.

Her legislation, SB1629, would reduce the penalty to a $300 fine for a first offense.

Johnson said there are lots of reasons for people not to want to carry a gun in the open.

“I carry my gun in my purse,” she said, saying anything else is impractical for someone wearing a dress. “For a woman, that’s basically what she would be doing, is carrying it concealed.”

Johnson said her gun, a .22-caliber eight-shot revolver, is “everywhere I go.” And that, she said, includes when she comes into the Senate building, though she leaves her purse — and the gun in it — in her office when she goes to the Senate floor.

State law makes it a crime for anyone to bring a weapon into a public building “unless specifically authorized by law.” The statute creates exceptions for police officers, members of the military performing official duties and officers of the Department of Corrections.

Violators can be sentenced to up to six months in jail.

Questions to Senate security staff were referred to Senate President Tim Bee, who was not available for comment Thursday.

Johnson may not be the only legislator who brings a weapon into the Capitol complex. Several lawmakers questioned by Capitol Media Services said they have permits to carry concealed weapons. That includes House Speaker Jim Weiers.

But only Senate Minority Leader Marsha Arzberger, D-Willcox, admitted — sort of — that her gun was close.

Asked specifically if she has her weapon in the Senate, Arzberger refused to answer the question outright. “But I will say I carry it everywhere I go,” she said, adding her weapon of choice is a .38-caliber revolver.

Senate Majority Whip John Huppenthal, R-Chandler, said he is not particularly alarmed that some colleagues may be armed. In fact, Huppenthal said he finds it comforting.

He said security in both the House and Senate is minimal. Visitors do not need to pass through any metal detectors. And the guards — with the exception of a lone Department of Public Safety officer in each building — are unarmed.

“There are places that you read about where, every once in a while where somebody wanders down the hall killing everybody,” he said.

“I just wonder what would happen to us in those situations,” Huppenthal continued. “If they got by the security guards, we’re in a world of hurt.”

Others, however, were not so sure. “I don’t think it makes any sense,” said Rep. Lucy Mason, R-Prescott, who does have a permit to carry a concealed weapon but doesn’t bring it to the Capitol.