Arizona Governor Signs Two Pro-Gun Bills Into Law

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey put his pen to good use Tuesday, signing two pro-gun bills and vetoing another.

Ducey signed Senate Bill 1266, which declares invalid any local regulation that violates the state statute preventing cities and counties from regulating firearms and allows courts to fine cities or counties up to $50,000 for such violations. It allows any individual affected by the regulation to sue a city or county, and allows the court to award them up to $100,000 in damages.

The governor also signed House Bill 2338, which forbids any school governing board — K-12 through university — from banning someone from legally possessing a deadly weapon on a public right of way adjacent to campus. State lawmakers during debate of the bill said it was a response to concerns about limiting the gun rights of drivers on Central Avenue in Phoenix, who travel adjacent to the Arizona State University downtown campus.

“Today, I was glad to sign Senate Bill 1266 and House Bill 2338 – two pieces of legislation that protect our Second Amendment rights,” Ducey said in a statement. “I have signed several other firearms bills, with a commitment to safeguarding our liberties relating to firearms.”

Ducey did, however veto HB 2524, which would have allowed Arizona to join a compact with other states to develop uniform firearm transfer laws. The member states would have to comply with the compact’s regulations and would be prohibited from imposing fees, taxes or regulations on the transfer of firearms beyond what federal law requires.

Remarking on the veto, Ducey called HB 2524 unnecessary.

“I see no reason for Arizona to tie ourselves to other states’ decisions on public policy relating to the transfer of firearms,” Ducey said in his statement. “We know what’s best for our state, and I trust the citizens of Arizona and their elected leaders to continue to make wise decisions to protect our Second Amendment rights, whenever and wherever those rights are infringed.”

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“Enhancing the state’s preemption laws guarantees that every Arizonan will be held to the same standards whether they live in Tempe or Tucson,” said NRA Spokesman Lars Dalseide. “Now safe and responsible gun owners won’t suddenly become criminals simply because they cross an imaginary line.”
“The efforts of Governor Ducey and pro-Second Amendment leaders in the Arizona Legislature have strengthened protections for law-abiding Arizonans who choose to exercise their constitutional right to self-protection.,” Dalseide concluded.
 The new gun laws go into effect August 6, 2016.

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