Governor Ducey’s Signature on Senate Bill 1266 Opens Door for Mayors and Law Enforcement to be Fined, Fired for Attempting to Protect Communities from Gun Violence; Taxpayers to Foot the Bill for Legal Expenses
PHOENIX – Today, the Arizona chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and members of the Everytown Survivor Network, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety, denounced Governor Ducey’s decision to sign Senate Bill 1266 into law.
Senate Bill 1266 will allow the NRA and out-of-state special interest groups to sue local officials who attempt to enforce local gun laws. The bill provides for a penalty of up to $50,000 to be levied against a locality that tries to enact or enforce public safety laws tailored to local conditions; allows for successful lawsuits to net special interest groups another $100,000 in damages, plus the cost of lawyers for the gun lobby; will force taxpayers to foot the entire bill and allows for a local official to be fired from his or her job for taking steps to protect public safety.
Governor Ducey did veto another extreme piece of legislation – House Bill 2524 – that would have handed over Arizona’s state sovereignty to other states by creating an interstate compact that would block all states that sign on from passing any laws related to the sale or transfer of firearms beyond existing federal law.
STATEMENT FROM GENEVA HABER, A VOLUNTEER WITH THE ARIZONA CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:
“Today, Governor Ducey turned his back on local officials who want to help prevent gun violence and save lives in their communities. Instead of listening to his constituents, Governor Ducey stood with the extremist gun lobby and signed a ridiculous piece of legislation that allows the NRA to sue local officials and potentially even fire them – all while making taxpayers foot the bill. This isn’t the Arizona we deserve, and that’s why Arizona Moms and gun violence survivors will continue to advocate for common-sense gun laws that will help save lives and will push back against the dangerous gun lobby agenda. The safety of our families and communities depends on it.”
STATEMENT FROM PAM SIMON, A MEMBER OF THE EVERYTOWN SURVIVOR NETWORK WHO SURVIVED THE 2011 ‘CONGRESS ON YOUR CORNER’ MASS SHOOTING:
“Governor Ducey spoke loud and clear that he is not listening to the majority of Arizonans that care about the safety of our neighbors. While I’m disappointed with his actions by signing Senate Bill 1266, I am even more committed to working to help save lives in Arizona. Governor Ducey and the legislature’s actions challenges us to work even harder in our fight for gun safety. Lives are on the line and it is long past time that the Arizona legislature and the Governor prioritize making our communities safe.”