Fairfax, Va. —Arizona's law-abiding gun owners won an important victory on Thursday when the State Supreme Court struck down a Tucson city ordinance requiring the destruction of confiscated firearms. The ruling specifically acknowledged the NRA’s amicus filing by adopting its argument “that preserving the right to bear arms under the federal and state constitutions is also a subject of state concern.” As such, under this ruling, ordinances from Charter Cities cannot run afoul of such rights.
“We applaud the Arizona Supreme Court’s ruling,” said Chris Cox, executive director of NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action. “Firearms should not be summarily destroyed by local governments."
Arizona law prohibited local governments from regulating the ownership, licensing, or use of firearms. That law was ignored 12 years ago when the Tucson city council passed an ordinance allowing for the destruction of firearms. This ruling keeps the regulation of firearms at the state level.
“On behalf of the NRA’s five-million members, I want to thank Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich for his defense of Arizona’s firearm preemption law,” concluded Cox. “This decision sets an important precedent to protect Arizonans’ firearms freedoms from future infringement by local ordinances.”
Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America's oldest civil rights and sportsmen's group. More than five million members strong, NRA continues to uphold the Second Amendment and advocates enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation's leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the armed services. Be sure to follow the NRA on Facebook at NRA on Facebook and Twitter @NRA.
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