Bill To Ban Gun Confiscations On The Governor's Desk
-- Please contact Napolitano immediately!
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Note: While the timing is unfortunate given the Virginia Tech
shootings, this is an important alert requiring the attention of
Arizona gun owners, because a hard deadline exists.
Legislation banning the confiscation of firearms and ammunition has
overwhelmingly passed both chambers of the state legislature in
Phoenix, and Gov. Janet Napolitano (D) has until Sunday to sign or
veto it.
SB 1258 -- introduced by state Senator Jay Tibshraeny (R-Dist. 21) --
passed by a unanimous vote in the House (55-0) and a crushing vote in
the Senate (22-8).
SB 1258 is an extremely valuable piece of legislation. The nation
saw egregious examples of anti-gun misbehavior by the New Orleans
police during the "state of emergency" there in 2005. This
bill will
insure the same thing doesn't happen in The Grand Canyon State.
Because Gov. Janet Napolitano vetoed similar legislation last year,
the legislature added an amendment which addresses her concerns.
Previously, Napolitano said this legislation would prevent officials
from moving warehoused ammunition out of the way of wildfires.
Hence, SB 1258 allows the governor to order the "reasonable movement
of stores of ammunition out of the way of dangerous conditions" such
as wildfires.
Could this language be abused? Possibly. But the bill definitely
takes a step forward in that it strengthens the current emergency
powers which, at present, would allow officials to confiscate ANY
property they want during an emergency.
That is why SB 1258 is so significant. The bill tells a governor and
his officials that they can NOT "commandeer and utilize... firearms
or ammunition or firearms or ammunition components."
Further, the administration is PROHIBITED from imposing "additional
restrictions on the lawful possession, transfer, sale,
transportation, carrying, storage, display or use of firearms or
ammunition or firearms or ammunition components."
ACTION:
1. It is important that you contact Gov. Janet Napolitano and ask her
to sign SB 1258 into law. Because she vetoed similar legislation
last year, she might be inclined to do so again. You can use the
pre-written letter below to help direct your comments to her at:
Phone: 602-542-4331
Fax: 602-542-1381
E-mail: fill in the web form at http://azgovernor.gov/Contact.asp
2. Please circulate this alert and ask your friends and family to
take action as well!
----- Pre-written letter -----
Dear Gov. Napolitano:
Now that SB 1258 has passed the legislature, I urge you to sign it
into law. This bill would change state law to prohibit the
confiscation of firearms and ammunition during a state of emergency,
and would outlaw police misbehavior such as the outrageous conduct in
New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, which was soundly rebuked by
the courts.
You had previously stated that you were worried about being able to
move stores of ammunition out of the way of wildfires. You will note
that the legislation has been amended to address your concerns.
Unlike some parts of the country, we in Arizona value the right to
keep and bear arms. Please reinforce this right by signing SB 1258.
Sincerely,
****************************