Wednesday, 9 February 2000
By Howard Fischer
Capitol Media Services
PHOENIX - Saying they want consistency, House members voted
yesterday to block cities from enacting their own gun laws.
The measure, HB 2095, spells out that cities cannot have any law
on the possession, transportation or use of guns that is different
from what is allowed under state law.
Proponents said law-abiding gun owners should not worry about
running afoul of local gun regulations just because they drive
from one community to another.
But legislators, at the urging of the National Rifle Association,
refused to make it illegal to carry a gun in a city or county-owned
park even though it already is illegal to tote a weapon in a state
park.
What that does, according to foes of the legislation, is give
visitors to city parks less protection against someone who might
decide to carry a weapon. Supporters, however, said they get more
protection: They can actually defend themselves against an attacker,
who probably wouldn't obey the no-gun law in the first place.
The measure, which now goes to the Senate after the 42-16 vote,
is designed largely to overturn a Tucson law banning guns in city
parks.
``Everybody is safer when people have arms,'' said Rep. Barbara
Blewster, R-Dewey.
Lawmakers approved a similar law last year specifically to overturn
the 1996 Tucson ordinance. That bill, however, was vetoed by Gov.
Jane Hull.
Francie Noyes, the governor's press aide, said Hull has ``many
concerns'' the Legislature do nothing that would leave gaps in
the ability of cities to keep guns from where they do not belong.
Noyes said, though, the governor has not decided whether she would
sign this bill.
Elsewhere at the Capitol:
Repeal sought
A Senate panel voted yesterday to repeal Arizona's anti-sodomy
law.
According to Sen. Ed Cirillo, the law is unnecessary and unenforceable.
He said the same is true of a law that makes it illegal for couples
to live together without being married and another that criminalizes
``lewd and lascivious conduct.''
The Sun City West Republican said he has enough support to get
the repeal of all three crimes approved by the full Senate, with
15 of the 30 senators signed on as sponsors for SB 1471. But it
probably will not get that far despite yesterday's 6-2 vote by
the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Senate President Brenda Burns, R-Glendale, a foe of Cirillo's
plan, also assigned the bill to the Senate Committee on Family
Services. Sen. David Petersen, R-Mesa, who chairs that panel,
refused to schedule a hearing on the measure.
Cirillo said he doesn't want to make law breakers out of constituents
who have chosen in their later years to live together because
of issues of inheritance or Social Security payments.
Pesticides sale
* Legislators voted yesterday to let pesticide companies begin
selling their products for use by farmers here even before the
state has certified them as safe.
The measure specifies that pesticides can be ``conditionally registered''
for use in Arizona for one year, with up to two renewals. Only
after that would a manufacturer need to have received formal approval
following testing by the Department of Environmental Quality.
A final roll-call vote is necessary before the measure, HB 2179,
goes to the Senate.
Rep. John Loredo, D-Phoenix, blasted efforts to short-circuit
the normal process. ``To imply that the crops are more important
than the human beings picking them is immoral, is unethical,''
he said.
But Rep. Carolyn Allen, R-Scottsdale, who agreed to sponsor the
bill for the Western Growers Association, said there are sufficient
protections in the law to ensure that the public health will not
be compromised. She noted that the pesticide must be cleared for
use by the Environmental Protection Agency and registered for
use in at least one other state.
Gambling age stays same
* An effort to boost the gambling age to 21 failed by a single
vote yesterday in the House.
The legislation, HB 2131, would scrap the current laws that allow
people who are 18 to play the lottery, place bets at race tracks
and gamble at Indian casinos. Proponents contend that people that
age are not mature enough to make decisions over what can become
addictive behavior.
Tax assessments
* Arizonans may get to decide who deserves a break from rising
tax assessments on their homes.
HCR 2032, which gained preliminary approval yesterday in the House,
would freeze property assessments for homeowners at current levels.
This value, which is used to compute property taxes, could change
only when a home is sold or when improvements are made.
The other measure, HCR 2028, has similar provisions - but only
for seniors and those of limited means. The income cap would be
$23,232 for a single person and $29,040 for a married couple.
Either proposal would require voter approval in November to take
effect.
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