Arizona: Gun Bills to Be Heard Tomorrow

Tomorrow, February 14^th, the state House Judiciary and Public Safety Committee will hold a hearing at 2:00PM on House Bill 2535 to guarantee that law-abiding citizens will not be stripped of their Second Amendment rights when they choose to provide foster care to children.  In addition, the state Senate Committee on Government will hold a hearing tomorrow at 2:00PM on Senate Bill 1374, which would significantly weaken Arizona's state firearm preemption statute and potentially render it ineffective.  Please contact House committee members and urge them to SUPPORT House Bill 2535 and ask Senate committee members to OPPOSE Senate Bill 1374!  Click the “Take Action” button to contact committee members.

In addition, please use the Request to Speak application (RTS) on the Arizona State Legislature website to urge House committee members to SUPPORT HB 2535 and Senate Committee members to OPPOSE SB 1374.  RTS is the most efficient and effective way to contact committee members regarding second amendment legislation.  It is imperative that you create an account and continue utilizing this tool throughout the 2018 legislative session.  

House Bill 2535, introduced by Representative Kevin Payne (R-21), would protect the right to self-defense while in the presence of a foster child or on the premises of a foster home.  Foster parents are like any other parents who simply want to care for their children, including exercising their Second Amendment rights in order to protect their families.  Current regulations under the Arizona Department of Child Safety have been forcing foster parents to choose between their Second Amendment rights or their children. 

Senate Bill 1374, introduced by Senator Kate Brophy McGee(R-28), would significantly weaken Arizona's state firearm preemption statute or potentially render it ineffective. This legislation would limit who would be allowed to request an Attorney General investigation of a violation of the state preemption statute, and adds unnecessary time delays making the states preemption statute less effective.  Firearm preemption laws ensure that fundamental Second Amendment rights are not diluted or distorted through controversial local policies and help prevent a confusing patchwork of gun control laws which make it difficult for gun owners to ensure that they are following the law.  Furthermore, Second Amendment rights are guaranteed to all citizens, regardless of where they live.  

Again, please click the “Take Action” button above and use the RTS system to urge the House committee members to SUPPORT HB 2535 and the Senate committee members to OPPOSE SB 1374.