Arizona State Representative Quang Nguyen is questioning the legality of a firearms ordinance in the City of Sedona.
Nguyen, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and a staunch defender of Second Amendment rights, sent a letter sent last week to Sedona Mayor Scott Jablow and members of the City Council, Representative Nguyen questioned the validity and enforceability of Sedona Ordinance 12.30.090, which imposes restrictions on the carrying and discharge of firearms in certain public areas.
Nguyen noted that the ordinance may conflict with existing Arizona law, specifically Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-3108, which preempts cities from enacting their own regulations related to the possession, carrying, and discharge of firearms.
While state law allows cities to limit or prohibit the discharge of firearms in parks and preserves under specific conditions, Representative Nguyen pointed out that Ordinance 12.30.090 regulates areas beyond parks and preserves, using vague terms such as “trails” and “open space areas,” which are not clearly defined and may extend beyond what state law permits.
Additionally, while the ordinance exempts individuals with a CCW permit, Arizona law since 2010 has allowed individuals who can legally carry a weapon openly to also carry it concealed without a permit, subject to certain restrictions.
“I urge the City of Sedona to review Ordinance 12.30.090 to ensure it complies with Arizona law,” said Representative Nguyen. “It’s important that local ordinances do not infringe upon the constitutional rights of Arizonans or conflict with state statutes.”
Nguyen has requested that the City of Sedona conduct a legal analysis of the validity of Ordinance 12.30.090 and provide its findings to him as soon as possible.