PHOENIX (AP) A Republican lawmaker who has been pushing a series of guns rights bills pulled out a new proposal Monday, tacking an amendment onto a minor bill that will legalize sawed-off shotguns, silencers and nunchucks in Arizona. <\/p>\n
The state already has some of the strongest Second Amendment protections in the country, but the Republican-dominated Legislature is working to add more breathing room for gun owners. <\/p>\n
The amendment by Sen. Kelli Ward, R-Lake Havasu City, adds to a bill designed to restore a persons gun rights if a judge sets aside a guilty conviction. <\/p>\n
We have a right to keep and bear arms and really that right shouldnt be infringed, she said. <\/p>\n
The amendment legalizes devices that muffle guns, rifles and shotguns with barrels less than 16 inches and nunchucks weapons made from two sticks or rods connected by a rope or chain. <\/p>\n
Ward said the idea for her amendment came from a pastor in the western Arizona community of Topock who wants to own nunchucks. <\/p>\n
Critics said the amendment is overly broad and avoided scrutiny by never going through committee hearings. <\/p>\n
Rep. Steve Farley, D-Tucson, said Wards amendment makes the bill less about helping people and more about legalizing weapons prohibited under Arizona law. <\/p>\n
It is only going to further our reputation on The Daily Show here in Arizona that we couldnt find a way of banning driving while texting while at the same time making legal silencers, sawed-off shotguns and nunchucks. <\/p>\n
Rep. Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, said he sees the problem with sawed-off shotguns, but not silencers. <\/p>\n
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Ward amendment would OK sawed-off shotguns, silencers<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" PHOENIX (AP) A Republican lawmaker who has been pushing a series of guns rights bills pulled out a new proposal Monday, tacking an amendment onto a minor bill that will legalize sawed-off shotguns, silencers and nunchucks in Arizona. Continue reading