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New bill allows people to bring deadly weapons closer to schools

Posted at 10:16 PM, Aug 05, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-08 14:46:07-04

Starting Saturday, people can bring deadly weapons closer to schools -- legally.

Arizona House Bill 2338 takes effect Saturday. What this means is that school governing boards can't ban someone from possessing a deadly weapon on any public right-of-way that is adjacent to a school.

The bill defines a public-right-of-way as, "any highway, street, road, thoroughfare, path, alley or other right-of-way that is publicly accessible and that is established by a governmental entity."

Ward 6 Council Member Steve Kozachik says this bill doesn't represent what his constituents want, and is an example of the State Legislature "preempting local jurisdiction's decision-making ability."

"If they want to pass this bill up in Mesa, or Chandler, of Flagstaff, let them do it -- if that's what their constituents want," Kozachik said. "The constituents I'm hearing from here in Tucson are saying don't put guns into a campus environment, it doesn't make sense, it doesn't make anybody safer."

Speaking with local teachers, professors, and other council members, he says they are all mostly on the same page.

"You talk to some of the professors on campus, you talk to some of the teachers in the Tucson Unified School District - they're already concerned about the behavioral issues they've got," he said. "Start throwing guns into that mix? No one's safer."

Another bill taking effect Saturday: Senate Bill 1266. This bill allows the State to fine any county or city that has more regulations on gun rights than the State does.