Several gun-ban groups are cheering Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs’s veto of a measure that would have bolstered the Grand Canyon State’s firearms preemption law.
Senate Bill 1705 would have put some teeth into Arizona’s firearm preemption laws by allowing a court to impose a $5,000 civil penalty on government officials who knowingly violate state firearm regulations. Additionally, it would have prohibited the use of public funding to defend or reimburse those who breach this law.
Arizona’s current firearms preemption law restricts local governments from enacting or implementing any laws, rules, or ordinances regarding firearms, including licensing, registration, ownership, purchase, sale, or transfer, unless specifically allowed by state law. However, it does not provide for a financial incentive to obey the law.
On May 2, Gov. Hobbs vetoed Senate Bill 1705, stating, “There are existing mechanisms to challenge city ordinances.” She has vetoed similar legislation in 2023.
Her latest veto started a cacophony of gleeful gloating from vehement anti-gun groups, who haven’t had much to crow about lately. Of course, their praise for the veto contained no shortage of lies, half-truths and dissimulations concerning the measure and what it would have done for lawful Arizonans.
In its statement, Moms Demand Action took exception to the proposed fines that would have been imposed on crooked politicians for violating the state’s preemption law.
“SB 1705 would have punished individual local officials with monetary fines simply for trying to protect their communities from gun violence,” the group stated. “This was just the latest effort by the Arizona legislature to safeguard the gun industry.”
The Demanding Moms’ younger generation also got in on the celebration.
“At what point will extremist lawmakers realize that trying to push reckless gun laws through our legislature is a losing strategy?” asked Carmen Rojas, a volunteer leader with the Arizona chapter of Students Demand Action. “Arizonans have made their voices clear year after year. We want politicians to prioritize our safety over personal interests, and we shouldn’t have to rely on the Governor’s veto to make that happen.”
So-called Everytown For Gun Safety, in its response to the veto, chose to make it all about protecting gunmakers.
“SB 1705 would have punished individual local officials with monetary fines simply for trying to protect their communities from gun violence,” stated a news release from the so-called Everytown for Gun Safety. “This was just the latest effort by the Arizona legislature to safeguard the gun industry.”
Finally, the folks over at the gun-ban group Giffords couldn’t resist weighing in on the veto, sharing even more misinformation about the measure—turning it into an immigration issue along the way.
“Today, Governor Katie Hobbs made the right call and vetoed a dangerous bill that would have led to additional gun violence and unjust killings here in Arizona,” former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords stated. “We’ve seen how similar laws in other states have been used as an excuse to ‘shoot first and ask questions later,’ often in an attempt to mask hate-fueled violence. This specific bill was born out of fearmongering and hatred toward immigrants. I’m grateful that our state has a leader like Governor Hobbs—her courageous and resolute action will keep Arizona safe.”