On Wednesday, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office released a statutorily required investigative report following a complaint filed last month by Representatives Quang Nguyen and Selena Bliss regarding the City of Phoenix’s ordinance authorizing the transfer of guns to Ukraine. The report finds that the ordinance is in conflict with A.R.S. §§ 12-945, 12-943, and 13-3108(A).
One month ago, House Judiciary Chairman Quang Nguyen and Vice Chair Selina Bliss filed a 1487 complaint with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, seeking an investigation into a recently passed City of Phoenix ordinance allowing the illegal donation of 599 unclaimed firearms to Ukraine’s national police force.
“We appreciate the Attorney General’s report affirming the City of Phoenix ordinance’s violation of state law.” said Chairman Nguyen and Vice Chair Bliss in a joint statement. “It is frustrating that Mayor Kate Gallego and Councilmembers were informed of this as far back as July 3, yet Mayor Gallego then willfully disregarded state law and rushed the transfer of these firearms abroad. Then, while a pending investigation into the ordinance’s legality was underway, the City attempted to cancel the arrangement altogether to avoid the Attorney General’s report. That’s not leadership, it’s shameful. As public officials, it is imperative that we uphold the rule of law and respect our state constitution. Witnessing Mayor Gallego blatantly neglect this responsibility, especially with full awareness of the law and its implications, is disheartening.”