by Corinne Murdock | Nov 2, 2023 | News
By Corinne Murdock |
Attorney General Kris Mayes says she will push for a new “red flag” law to not only take away guns from those viewed as posing a threat to others, but those with whom the individual resides.
“Red flag” laws enable a judge to issue a gun confiscation order if an individual’s behavior indicates they may harm themselves or others. Mayes told AZ Family that her proposed law would also extend to guns owned by others within the same household, not just the individual exhibiting problematic behaviors, should the red flag apply to those under the age of 18.
“We could essentially go after that gun,” said Mayes. “A teacher, or anybody who has lived with that person or lives with that person could apply for a protective order and could get that order against that juvenile.”
Mayes promised that the gun confiscation order would be temporary and focused on ensuring the safety of K-12 and higher education institutions. Those whose guns would be confiscated must defend their right to their guns in court in order to get them back.
“This is probably not going to happen all that often. But for the people who don’t die as a result of us having these protective orders in place, this is probably going to be important and this could make a difference,” Mayes said.
In an interview with the “Mike Broomhead Show” last Thursday, Mayes said the litmus test for obtaining court-ordered gun confiscation would hinge on whether an individual presents a clear and present danger.
“That red flag law would allow a court to remove firearms from a person based on clear and convincing evidence that a person will pose an immediate and present danger of personal injury or death to any person at a K-12 institution or our universities,” said Mayes.
The attorney general’s plans for the next legislative session follow greater pushes from Democratic leaders to establish greater forms of gun control: universal background checks, sweeping bans on “assault” weapons and high-capacity magazines, banning ghost guns, and eliminating gun manufacturers’ liability immunity.
In March, Mayes withdrew the state from a multistate lawsuit challenging the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) regulation on ghost guns. Those are unregulated, unserialized firearms made by buyers from a kit.
Then in May, Mayes filed an amicus brief urging a federal court to support the federal prohibition on firearms sales to individuals under the age of 21.
The state’s Democratic leaders have also pushed back against lawmakers’ efforts to expand the influence of lawful gun ownership on K-12 and university campuses.
Over this last legislative session, Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed SB 1331, allowing parents to conceal carry firearms on campus; HB 2332, requiring students to undergo firearm training; and HB 2667, barring universities and colleges from prohibiting students from carrying guns on campus.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
by Daniel Stefanski | Nov 2, 2023 | Economy, News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Arizona Legislators have an opportunity this week to meet and greet with a Canadian delegation.
On Monday, Arizona State Representative David Cook announced that the Delegate General of Québec in Los Angeles, Mr. David Brulotte, would be visiting Arizona on Wednesday. Cook, the Chairman of the Arizona House International Trade Committee, also revealed there would be other Canadian business leaders and organizations comprising the delegation to the state.
According to the lawmaker’s release, “the visit from the Canadian delegation is the result of the successful recent Trade and Foreign Direct Investment Mission to Canada, demonstrating a commitment to fostering strong economic ties between Arizona and Canada.”
“We are honored to welcome Delegate General David Brulotte to Arizona,” said Chairman Cook. “This visit marks a pivotal moment in our ongoing efforts to strengthen the economic relationship between our state and Canada. We look forward to productive discussions and collaborative initiatives that will benefit both regions. The Arizona House Committee on International Trade remains dedicated to fostering an environment that encourages trade, investment, and international collaboration, and looks forward to continued progress in strengthening these ties.”
The Vice Chairman of the Committee, Representative Justin Wilmeth also weighed in on the forthcoming visit, saying, “The Arizona House Committee on International Trade is committed to facilitating trade and financial investment opportunities. We believe that this meeting with Mr. Brulotte is an important step in achieving our shared goals of increased cooperation and economic growth. We are excited to work together to build a brighter future for both Arizona and Québec.”
Earlier this year, Cook led a delegation of Arizona House members on a trade mission to Canada, with the goal of “strengthening the longstanding ties between Arizona and Canada, further enhancing economic collaboration, and paving the way for increased foreign direct investment (FDI).” The legislative members who were announced to be attending this trip were International Trade Committee Chairman David Cook (R-7), Vice Chairman Justin Wilmeth (R-2), and committee members Tim Dunn (R-25), Melody Hernandez (D-8), and Mariana Sandoval (D-23). Representative Michael Carbone (R-25) was also expected to join the delegation.
The objectives for September’s Canadian trip included “engaging with the US Embassy in Ottawa for a comprehensive trade brief and fostering discussions with economic development organizations from the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, and with the Ontario Legislature and economic leaders to explore trade and investment prospects.”
In April 2023, the bipartisan House International Trade Committee unanimously adopted a plan “for conducting international trade” – a notable feat, considering the partisan nature of many efforts at the Legislature during the 2023 session. The Committee shared that its objectives were “to strengthen bilateral ties with existing international partners, attract more foreign direct investment to a booming Arizona and extend Arizona’s international reach for enhanced captured value to sustain a robust growing economy.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Nov 1, 2023 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Arizona sheriffs continue to raise concerns about the escalating crisis at America’s southern border, and some of these officials are putting their money where their mouth is.
Last week, the Arizona Sheriffs Association issued a press release to announce that deputies from five state counties would be heading to Cochise County. Those counties were Apache, Coconino, Navajo, Pinal, and Yavapai.
According to the release, the purpose of the deployment is to “help stanch the flow of drug and human smuggling in the state” by “working alongside other law enforcement to curb border related crime.
“Everyday, sheriffs deputies around the state encounter drug and human smugglers in our communities,” Arizona Sheriffs Association president and Yavapai County Sheriff David Rhodes said. “This is not a border region problem but a crisis in all of Arizona.”
Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels is happy for the increased support from his colleagues from the Grand Canyon State. In a statement, Dannels said, “We are grateful that law enforcement from across the state are converging in southern Arizona to curb the human and drug smuggling. This show of force sends a strong message to the cartels that Arizona is serious about tackling these criminal gangs.”
The latest efforts to combat the negative effects of a porous border come as a result of the Safe Streets II Task Force out of Cochise County. The Arizona Sheriffs Association shared that this task force, comprised of law enforcement members from local, state and federal agencies, exists to “gather intelligence and attempt to apprehend human and drug smugglers.”
“It is our duty to protect the communities we serve and that starts at the U.S.-Mexico border,” Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb said. “For far too long, the border areas have been open to the drug cartels. We must work to shut off these cartels from ruining America.”
“Criminal gangs that smuggle drugs and people across the border often end up in Coconino County and threaten our law enforcement and residents,” Coconino Sheriff Jim Driscoll said. “I’d rather deter those criminals at the border and stop them from using our county as a transit corridor.”
This latest effort from Arizona sheriffs follows their actions taken earlier in the month via letters to Governor Katie Hobbs and legislative leaders, requesting the state to “double its contribution to local law enforcement to allow (sheriffs) to deploy more resources to interdict human and drug smugglers.”
Just last month, a Cochise County Deputy Sheriff was seriously injured as he attempted to stop a suspected smuggler, who was trying to evade apprehension in her vehicle. When talking to local media about the rash of similar incidents plaguing his county and department, Sheriff Mark Dannels said, “Just this week alone, I’ve had a patrol car damaged, I’ve had two officers, deputies that were trying to be run over by smuggler drivers. This is every day down here.”
In May 2022, former Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich and Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels penned an op-ed for Fox News, detailing how an increasing rash of border-related crimes were affecting southern Arizona communities. The two officials shared a heartbreaking story of how one of these episodes tragically changed the lives of one southern Arizona family forever, writing, “This crisis started to place local law enforcement officials and residents of Cochise County on high alert in October 2021 when law enforcement officials attempted a traffic stop on a 16-year-old from Mesa, who was smuggling migrants in Cochise County in southern Arizona. The teenager suddenly hit the gas, driving over 100 miles per hour through small towns and quiet intersections on a mad dash to avoid apprehension. He eventually ran a red light, smashing into another vehicle and killing Wanda Sitoski, a local grandmother on her way to meet her son for her 65th birthday dinner.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Nov 1, 2023 | Economy, News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A local team’s unexpected run to the pinnacle of the baseball world has given its city an economic boon.
The Arizona Diamondbacks weren’t expected to go too far during the 2023 Major League Baseball postseason, but the team has proven its doubters and detractors very wrong over the past few weeks, reaching the World Series for the first time since 2001. This journey through October provides an infusion of tens of millions of dollars to the City of Phoenix and the State of Arizona, giving the local economy millions of extra reasons to cheer on their team.
Glenn Farley, the Arizona Director of Policy & Research for the Common Institute, published a piece about the expected economic impact for the region based on the hometown team’s surge through the playoffs. He wrote that “because the events are unplanned and non-competitive, the typical costs associated with attracting and hosting a major event are largely missing during a World Series, and successful hosting depends on a cities natural economic base and infrastructure rather than disposable infrastructure developed specifically for the event.”
Farley pointed out that the State of Arizona’s sports and tourism sector “employs 167,000 people,” and that “those tourism and hospitality workers were already on hand to support visitors and consumers for the unexpected World Series windfall.”
The economic benefits of the World Series in Arizona follow a busier-than-normal year for the Valley’s national sports scene. Researchers from Arizona State University found that the January Fiesta Bowl for college football garnered $170 million, the February Phoenix Open for golf another $277 million, and the February Super Bowl for the NFL topped out at $1.3 billion. The first full Cactus League Spring Training season since 2019 also brought hundreds of millions of dollars to Arizona towns and cities. In addition, Arizona hosted an early round of the World Baseball Classic back in March.
Researchers also have shared that the two cities that hosted the World Series in 2022 earned $68 million and $78 million, respectively, from economic spending attached with their team’s individual trips to the Fall Classic.
In his post, Farley added, “The state’s impending successful hosting of a World Series, following a Super Bowl and during an ongoing recovery for the state’s conventions and tourism, is another opportunity to celebrate its success in cultivating a robust and diverse local economy – including young and healthy infrastructure, a large and perennial tourism industry, and an innovative approach to taxes and regulations that supports business development.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Nov 1, 2023 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Two Arizona cities are among the top ten in America for military veterans to live, according to a recently released survey.
WalletHub issued its findings for its latest installment of the Best and Worst Places for Veterans to Live, showing Scottsdale and Gilbert among the highest-ranked municipalities in the nation. Scottsdale clocked in at the sixth-ranked city, and Gilbert as the eighth highest.
Chandler (#11), Mesa (#29), Glendale (#37), Tucson (#46), and Phoenix (#58) also appeared on the list of 100 cities.
WalletHub used four dimensions as determining factors for its report: Employment, Economy, Quality of Life, and Health.
Scottsdale received two top-ten marks in the “Economy” and “Quality of Life” dimensions. Gilbert received one top-ten distinction in the “Employment” dimension and an eleventh-ranked notation for “Economy.”
The Veterans Association estimates that there are more than 18 million veterans in the United States. WalletHub releases this annual study “to help military veterans find the best places in which to settle down.”
The City of Scottsdale has an online page dedicated to military events, giving these American heroes easy access to resources and organizations they might need. The foreword for the page states, “No matter when you served or where you served, we honor your service, your sacrifice and your dedication to the United States of America. The people of Scottsdale have a great admiration and the utmost gratitude for the men and women who selflessly served – and serve – this country.”
The Town of Gilbert also has a webpage for military veterans, which is “intended to boost engagement with veterans and their families in our community, provide for recognition, and connect them with needed resources.” Gilbert’s Veterans Advisory Board seeks to “create a supportive Town atmosphere and examine issues affecting the health and well-being of service members, veterans, and their families.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Corinne Murdock | Oct 31, 2023 | News
By Corinne Murdock |
A federal court ruled that abortionists can challenge the state’s ban on discriminatory abortions.
The Ninth Circuit Court ruled on Monday in Isaacson v. Mayes that abortionists may petition for an injunction against state law prohibiting abortions based on fetal genetic abnormality, dubbed the “Reason Regulations.” Judges Ronald Gould, Andrew Hurwitz, and Roopali Desai agreed in their ruling with the abortionists’ claim that they endured economic harm. The abortionists blamed the abortion ban’s vagueness for moving them to conduct less abortions out of caution.
Specifically, the abortionists claimed that the discriminatory abortion ban violated the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments: the threat of prison jeopardized their liberty interest, and the threats of license revocation, monetary damages, and revenue loss jeopardized their property interest. The circuit court dismissed the state’s claim of interest in regulating medical practice.
“That their services include abortion does not alter the fact that Plaintiffs make money providing these services and have lost money because the Reason Regulations restrict what services they can provide,” stated the ruling.
During the trial, the abortionists revealed that patients with likely or confirmed fetal abnormalities made up a significant part of their business.
The “Reason Regulations” made it a felony to either knowingly solicit or accept money to finance an abortion, or to perform an abortion, based on a fetal genetic abnormality.
The abortionists claimed that their overcompliance with the statute was due to the vagueness of the term “genetic abnormality,” and the statute’s lack of details on determining how much that factor had to play into a patient’s decision to get an abortion as well as the level of knowledge an abortionist would have to have in order to be guilty of violating the ban.
Monday’s ruling reversed an Arizona District Court order issued in February allowing the ban to go into effect. The district court rejected the abortionists’ request for a preliminary injunction, since the Supreme Court had just ruled that no constitutional right to abortion existed in its Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health ruling last year overturning Roe v. Wade.
The federal court remanded the case back to the district court for it to decide, once more, whether the state ban on discriminatory abortion may go into effect.
A similar ongoing case may nullify the results of Isaacson v. Mayes. In Planned Parenthood Arizona v. Mayes, the Arizona Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in December to determine whether the state’s preemptive, pre-statehood, total abortion ban remains enforceable due to the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
The state’s total abortion ban was suspended following the Supreme Court’s 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade that created a constitutional right to abortion. Last year — prior to Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health — the state passed its 15-week abortion ban.
Planned Parenthood Arizona v. Mayes would decide which of the two laws has authority in the state.
The state never repealed its total abortion ban. The 15-week ban didn’t preclude the enforcement of any other preceding abortion laws.
Last week, Planned Parenthood Arizona (PPAZ) filed a motion to recuse Arizona Supreme Court Judge William Montgomery for his personal beliefs opposing PPAZ.
Earlier this month, Gov. Katie Hobbs filed an amicus brief to oppose the total abortion ban.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
