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Arizona is a pretty gun-friendly state, consistently ranked at or near the top of lists of states with least-restrictive firearms laws.
Then why is the state Legislature occupied with so many separate bills dealing with guns? The topics include guns in public buildings, business gun-free zones, "smart" guns, privately selling guns and "rat shot."
Some of the bills continue to move forward, some not. Most of those liberalizing gun laws wins broad support, at least initially. Some, like the recurring bill to allow firearms in public buildings, die because of some very real potential consequences, including taxpayer cost.
Some have less to do with actual gun rights than the ongoing power struggle between the right-leaning Legislature and some cities. That tiff is why lawmakers spend time on things like grocery bags. With guns, the issue revolves around the rights of local government to issue its own firearms regulations.
Recent bills would prohibit local government from requiring background checks during private firearm sales and prohibit any mandatory "smart gun" ordinances. (Weapons that could be tracked or that could only be fired by its owner.)
Our View: Arizona should consider Iowa's broad approach to gun laws