A letter from a Tucson retiree who used to be a California investigator proved instrumental in killing legislation that would have allowed people to fire off small-caliber "snake shot'' in city limits.

The president of the state Senate is quashing legislation that would have made it harder to prosecute people for firing off weapons within city limits.

The sponsor of legislation to weaken “Shannon's Law” agreed Tuesday to stop trying to allow people to fire off guns in the city within a quarter-mile of any residence.

Arizona gun owners would be able to escape being prosecuted under “Shannon's Law” if they say it was just an accident that they fired their gun into the air.