House Passes Bill Barring Undocumented Immigrants From Carrying Deadly Weapon 

House Minority Leader John Loredo, D-13, complained that S1345, which would prohibit undocumented immigrants from possessing firearms, may hurt his constituents because his district has such a high crime rate residents must arm themselves.

Rep. Tom Prezelski, D-29, also criticized the bill because he said it would require that “people who are brown prove they are [U.S.] citizens.

“I am afraid of how this bill is going to be enforced,” Mr. Prezelski said.

House members passed S1345 on a 49-9 vote on April 5. The bill went back to the Senate to see if senators would concur with House amendments.

State law requires that “prohibited possessors,” such as persons found to be a danger to themselves or others, convicted felons who have not had their civil rights restored or a person in prison or on probation after a conviction for domestic violence or a felony, be prohibited from having a deadly weapon. Possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited possessor is a class 4 felony.

S1345 adds undocumented immigrants to the list of prohibited possessors. The bill includes in the definition of those two categories persons who are traveling for business or pleasure with or without documentation and persons who are studying in Arizona but maintain a foreign residence. Non-immigrants can have a deadly weapon if they also have a valid hunting license or are participating in a competitive shooting event or sports/hunting trade show.

“I agree with the intent of this bill,” said Mr. Loredo, but he said he was concerned how it might affect his west Phoenix district, which has had one of the highest rates of crime.

“If something happens, many times the police officers are not able to respond until after it happens,” he said. “If something does happen, you better have something to defend yourself and your family. I have always been in favor of a person being able to protect his family.”

Rep. Ben Miranda, D-16, said, “No other state has enacted similar legislation.”

Rep. Bob Robson, R-20, supported S1345 saying, “Law enforcement needs this to level the playing field.”

Financial Literacy Month

In another matter, the House did an abrupt about-face on a Senate resolution designating April as Financial Literacy for Youth Month in Arizona.

After sending SCR1048 to a resounding defeat on a 22-35 vote on April 6, House members passed it, 51-1, on reconsideration the next day.

Sen. Dean Martin, R-6, prime sponsor of the resolution, was on the House floor during the reconsideration vote, and Speaker Jake Flake, R-5, congratulated him for being a miracle worker. SCR1048 has been sent to the secretary of state.

Regarding SCR 1048, the U.S. Senate in 2002 passed Senate Resolution 48, which designates April as National Financial Literacy Month. SCR1048 mirrors the federal resolution in encouraging parents and educators to work to increase financial literacy.

Rep. Ted Downing, D-28, opposed the resolution saying, “This seems at best a vacuous gesture. It is not the way to increase financial literacy.”

Rep. Linda Gray, R-10, was one of the few to support the resolution on April 6 and said, “I think April would be a perfect month for children to hear how much government takes out of their parents’ paycheck.”

There were no speeches during the reconsideration vote. Rep. Wally Straughn, D-15, was the only House member to oppose SCR1048 during both votes. —