A Pima County Superior Court judge has handed the Goldwater Institute a win against Pima County in a victory for Arizona firearm owners. The Court struck down an illegal law in Pima County that required residents to report lost and stolen firearms to the government within two days, or face $1,000 fines.
Goldwater had sued the county to stop the mandate on behalf of Air Force veteran Chris King and the Pima County-based Arizona Citizens Defense League.
As Goldwater attorneys argued before the Pima County Superior Cour, state law prohibits local governments from regulating firearms or firearm-related conduct unless specifically authorized by the state legislature, and the county Board of Supervisors appeared to know as much when it brazenly passed the ordinance.
Judge Greg Sakall agreed that the county’s actions violated multiple provisions of state law. The court’s decision is based in part on the premise that the county cannot enact any firearm-related regulations unless expressly authorized by state law.
According to the Goldwater Institute, the “new ordinance wasn’t just illegal—it took aim at the wrong people. Rather than target criminals who steal firearms, the requirement would have revictimized law-abiding gun owners who experience the loss or theft of a firearm. Some may not even realize they are victims until much later.”
“I’m grateful the court recognized that Pima County officials are not above the law,” says King, a county resident and NRA-certified firearms instructor whose firearm was burglarized from his home while he was on active-duty out of state. “Firearm owners like me shouldn’t have to pay exorbitant fines as punishment for being robbed.”
“The ruling is a significant victory for the rule of law, for gun owners statewide, and for the state’s ability to prevent rogue cities and counties from creating a confusing patchwork of local firearm restrictions,” adds Goldwater Staff Attorney Parker Jackson.
Liberals are control freaks, after all.
All AZ corruption starts in Santa Cruz County. The avenue of the corrupt. Adrian Fontes, Liz Gutfahr are proud Santa Cruz county democrats. Scratch the surface of their elected officials and find the rot.
PimaCounty is an “ONGOING CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE”, run by the Grijalva Gang. They keep the population dumb, gullible, and geriatric. That said, it’s now big enough to get on everybody’s radar screens, and that includes the Feds, who know it’s also a “Laundromat City” for the cartels (actually detailed). Stay tuned, more fireworks (wrong word?) to come.
I’m glad to know the Goldwater Institute still stands up on behalf of Arizonans.
Everyone should throw a few bucks to goldwater if they can
I had my TT broken into and a 22 rifle and ammo stolen, reported to the police and told them it included theft of the rifle and ammo. Took tpd over an hour to respond and then nothing happened afterwards. So yes this bogus bill would also not do anything, the thief got away
the gun was gone and pc could care less. Typical of the left democraps, long on promises and short on delivery.
I’m glad for the win. I’ve lived in Pima County for the last 50+ years and all I’ve ever seen here are liberals getting dumber by the day and the PCBOS leads the way. The only reason they keep getting reelected is voter apathy
Why the conservatives in Pima are not focusing on fighting apathy and raising voter awareness?
the lefties in CITY rule over whelmingly
Chris lives in Vail(County) were it’s pretty even split of right/left with 18% independents
Well, wonder how much taxpayer money the county spent on this BS trial that they knew would get kicked out of court with any judge that had any common sense. Oh, thats ok with them because its not their money, just like the balloon BS and most other stuff in Pima County and the COT.
The leftist dimwits are indeed the party of totalitarians and fascists.
This is, and always has been the MO for Pima Co. and the CofT. Enact some silly liberal ordinance, etc., get slapped down and ask for forgiveness when they should have initially asked for permission. Just like the gun by-back the City attempted some years ago. They just think they are more powerful than the State. Way to go Goldwater!!