How many of us were surprised about the recent killings of 18 people in Colorado and Georgia? How many thought, “well another mass shooting, but what can I do about it?” How many Arizona citizens remember that this March, the Arizona Senate panel gave the go-ahead for more people to bring loaded weapons into more places.
“The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun, is not to sell the bad guy a gun.” |
One measure approved by the Judiciary Committee would allow more than 390,000 Arizonans with permits to carry a concealed weapon into most public buildings, regardless of what the sign on the door says. (HB2551)
These shootings are horrendous in themselves, but then the NRA bragged that it blocked the Boulder AR-15 ban just six days before the deadly shooting killed ten people. Gun rights group also tweeted a defense of the Second Amendment just hours after the gruesome Colorado shooting. “A Colorado judge gave law-abiding gun owners something to celebrate when he ruled that the city of Boulder’s ban on commonly owned rifles (AR-15s) and 10+ round mags was preempted by state law and STRUCK THEM DOWN.” The NRA tweeted on March 16.
Guns, guns and more guns
Arizona is no slouch when it comes to protecting our National Menace.
The Arizona Senate Judiciary Committee approved HB 2551 – over the objections of city and county officials, who questioned the wisdom of having more armed people in government offices. They pointed out that the only way they could keep out people with weapons would be to install and staff metal detectors. By an identical party-line margin, the committee said any adult is free to bring a loaded weapon onto a school campus as long as it is left in a locked vehicle.
But Rep. John Kavanagh (R-Fountain Hills), the sponsor of the measure about guns in public buildings, said opponents are overly worried. Kavanagh went onto say, “the current law the one that makes public buildings posted with off-limits to those with weapons is pretty much a joke.” But as usual, politicians never really say what they mean.
- Armed Legislators. In April 2016, the Speaker of the House David Gowan (R-LD14) was on record as restricting reporters from the House floor unless they submit to a background check. “It was for security reasons,” Gowan said.
But in true political-speak the week before, the Speaker permitted all House members to be armed. But that didn’t stop one Representative from saying “that if someone in the gallery stands up and opens fire, that there would be more than one member to fire back.”
80 Percent of Americans Support Common-sense Gun Control |
This is real political doublespeak because the legislature insisted on having metal detectors installed for anyone who wanted to enter the House or Senate chamber. So if only House or Senate members are the only ones armed and visitors have gone through metal detectors, would that mean House and Senate members are protecting themselves from themselves since they are the only ones armed?
- Tucson can’t destroy confiscated guns used in crimes. In August 2017, the Arizona Supreme Court has ruled that Tucson does not have the right to ignore state law regarding the disposal of confiscated weapons. Regarding SB 1487, Tucson broke the law when it destroyed about 4,800 unclaimed or forfeited guns. It seems Tucson denied its citizens of the much-needed revenue it would receive if these guns were to be sold.
And under Senate Bill 1487, if the Attorney General’s Office finds a local ordinance is in conflict, and the local government refuses to fix it, the state can withhold revenue from the local entity.
Gun nut Rep. Mark Finchem (R-Oro Valley) used the law to ask Attorney General Mark Brnovich to investigate Tucson’s gun ordinance, and Brnovich determined a violation might have occurred. Finchem claimed at the time, “It is a good thing that the city of Tucson will finally be held accountable for their blatant disregard of state law.
Finchem also claimed, “the city of Tucson flagrantly violated state statutes and deprived the taxpayers of the opportunity to obtain the fair market value of a public asset.” This means that a citizen may no longer turn over a gun to any Police Department for proper disposal because destroying the gun would result in denying the municipality the needed revue from re-selling that gun. To say nothing about destroying a Nation Menace. It seems only fair that Tucson or any other municipality should be required to sell any discarded appliance, cars, and fixtures for much-needed revenue.
The NRA mantra that, “The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is with a good guy with a gun.” Should now be “The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun, is not to sell the bad guy a gun.”
