Everytown for Gun Safety and Arizona Moms Applaud Legislature for Standing Up for Public Safety
Everytown for Gun Safety and the Arizona chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America today released the following statement applauding the defeat of four dangerous, NRA-backed gun bills in the Arizona legislature, which adjourned early this morning.
Everytown has more than 63,000 supporters in Arizona, many of whom made calls and sent emails to lawmakers’ offices, and spent hours walking the halls of the Capitol, urging legislators to oppose the bills.
This significant defeat for the NRA comes in the midst of gun lobby legislative losses around the country. The gun lobby has fallen short on efforts ranging from bills to force guns on campus (defeated already in Arkansas, South Dakota, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming), to those that would let people carry hidden, loaded guns in public without a permit (defeated already in Montana, South Dakota, Utah, and West Virginia). Now, Arizona joins the list of states across the country where gun safety advocates are going toe-to-toe with the gun lobby and defeating dangerous bills that would hinder public safety.
The bills that failed as the legislature adjourned include:
- SB 1291, which would have allowed out-of-state interest groups to sue local officials and law enforcement who attempt to enforce local gun laws, forcing local taxpayers to foot the bill;
- HB 2320, which would have let people carry concealed, loaded guns into government buildings and public sporting events, costing private businesses and taxpayers millions of dollars;
- HB 2431, legislation that would have forced Arizona to surrender its sovereignty to other states via an interstate compact, making it impossible to enact public safety laws without the approval of other states; and
- SB 1330, a bill that would have nullified federal gun laws as they apply to Arizona.
STATEMENT FROM GENEVA HABER, VOLUNTEER AND CHAPTER LEADER, ARIZONA MOMS DEMAND ACTION:
“Today, the state legislature stood up for public safety and failed to pass a series of dangerous gun bills that would have put Arizona families and communities at risk. These gun-lobby backed bills would have been wrong for our state, and we’re proud that our elected leaders chose to stand on the side of public safety and common sense by preventing these bills from passing.”
About Everytown for Gun Safety
Everytown is the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with more than 2.5 million supporters and more than 40,000 donors including moms, mayors, survivors, and everyday Americans who are fighting for public safety measures that respect the Second Amendment and help save lives. At the core of Everytown are Mayors Against Illegal Guns and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a grassroots movement of American mothers founded the day after the Sandy Hook tragedy. Learn more at www.everytown.org and follow us @Everytown
About Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is a grassroots movement of American mothers fighting for public safety measures that respect the Second Amendment and protect people from gun violence. Moms Demand Action campaigns for new and stronger solutions to lax gun laws and loopholes that jeopardize the safety of our children and families. Since its inception after the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Moms Demand Action has established a chapter in every state of the country and along with Mayors Against Illegal Guns is part of Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with more than 2.5 million members and more than 40,000 donors. For more information or to get involved visit www.momsdemandaction.org. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MomsDemandAction or on Twitter at @MomsDemand