Tagged: guns

A statewide gun-rights group said today that lawmakers should consider having armed and trained volunteers and staff in schools to protect students against future attacks.

Jan Brewer said today she's not sure if any of those gun bills she signed as governor should be revisited in the wake of the shootings in Connecticut.

A Hopi blessing…

The rapid fire of shots at neon orange clay targets attached to red ribbons…

Cheers from the crowd .... and the ribbon “shooting” is complete. 

The Northern Arizona Shooting Range opened to a happy throng of gun enthusiasts this weekend.  Many of them have waited nearly 45 years for an official place to practice their marksmanship.

You are twice as likely to die from a gunshot in Arizona as in New York City or in Los Angeles.

According to recent research from the Violence Policy Center, Arizona’s gun death rate is among the highest in the nation.  

The Center reports Arizona has a rate of 13 gun deaths for every hundred thousand people.

That may not sound like a lot, but Houston’s rate is 13. And Chicago’s is 15

Among states, Arizona ranks 15th highest in per capita gun deaths.

Siding with local governments, Governor Jan Brewer vetoed legislation Tuesday that would have allowed guns into public buildings.

Existing law says all a government agency need do to keep guns out is post a sign and provide lockers for weapons. Charles Heller of the Arizona Citizens Defense League said that's meaningless. In fact, Heller said the signs actually can make the building more dangerous.

If the idea of 'stand your ground' sounds like something that could happen only in Florida, think again.  Lawmakers here quietly approved a similar plan two years ago.

The issue arose as Dave Kopp of the Arizona Citizens Defense League was trying to keep police from keeping track of who owns guns. But Kopp got Chuck Gray, who then was chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, to tack on language adding a new provision to Arizona's self-defense laws. 

State senators gave final approval this afternoon to legislation that could let anyone bring a gun into a public building. 

Current law says posting a sign makes it illegal to enter with a gun. This legislation adds the requirement of having armed guards and metal detectors. Proponents said the signs are obeyed only by law-abiding citizens, leaving them prey to those who ignore the signs. Sen. Al Melvin said society can be broken down into three groups: The unarmed sheep, armed sheep dogs -- and the wolves who are the bad guys.

A Senate panel voted Monday to override rules which now ban guns on college and university campuses. But  some of the supporters appear not entirely convinced.