A bipartisan Second Amendment bill is making its way through the Arizona Legislature this session.
Earlier this week, HB 2617 cleared the Arizona House Committee on Military Affairs and Public Safety (MAPS). The proposal, which was sponsored by State Representative Alma Hernandez, would “lower thresholds for the juvenile restoration of firearm rights subsequent to a juvenile felony criminal conviction,” according to the overview provided by the Arizona House.
In a statement on the platform “X,” Hernandez said, “It was a super long day, but tonight, my bill, HB2617, passed out of committee! This bill will give youth the ability to destroy their juvenile record at 18 for most offenses; for other offenses, at the age of 25- it would allow youth who complete their court consequence proceedings to enter adulthood without the stigma of their past indiscretions.”
It was a super long day, but tonight, my bill, HB2617, passed out of committee! This bill will give youth the ability to destroy their juvenile record at 18 for most offenses; for other offenses, at the age of 25 -it would allow youth who complete their court consequence… pic.twitter.com/jXcq3QFiUl
Representative Hernandez, a Democrat, added, “Currently, courts are denying the request of many 18 y/o to destroy their juvenile records because they are not eligible to have their gun rights restored at 18. This language has been confusing for years. Big thanks to 2 of my friends and juvenile public defenders who came to support and testify! It’s time to fix it. Thanks to all who supported me!”
The Arizona House Democrats Caucus “X” account also noted the achievement, writing, “Congratulations to Rep. Alma Hernandez for HB 2617 passing the Military Affairs & Public Safety Committee this evening! On to the Floor soon.”
Congratulations to Rep. @almaforarizona for HB2617 passing the Military Affairs & Public Safety Committee this evening! On to the Floor 🔜 pic.twitter.com/m7XBhSQxzu
The bill passed out of the MAPS Committee with a 13-1 vote. One member voted “Present” on the legislation.
On the State Legislature’s Request to Speak system, representatives from Stand for Children, Arizona Veterans, Pima County, and Arizona LeadingAge registered their support for the bill, while a representative from Arizona National Organization for Women registered in opposition.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
In a legislative session quickly being defined by partisan standoffs between House and Senate Republicans and Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs, one freshman lawmaker has found a bill that is bringing both sides together – and may earn a signature from Hobbs if it clears both chambers.
Representative Selina Bliss introduced HB 2617, dealing with the carrying of firearms for constables. According to the overview provided by the Arizona House of Representatives, the bill “includes an on-duty or off-duty constable, who meets certain requirements, within the definition of a peace officer who may not be prohibited from carrying a firearm except in limited circumstances.”
In an exclusive interview with AZ Free News, Representative Bliss explained that she introduced HB 2617 after learning from her own Yavapai County Constable Ron Williams “that constables and deputy constables are not part of the list in ARS 38-1113, which covers off-duty carry of firearms by peace officers. This list currently includes county attorneys, retired officers, out-of-state officers, and federal officers; but it doesn’t include constables. Currently, ARS 22-131 states that a constable is a peace officer only in the course of their duties. Therefore, the attorney general has determined that constables have no off-duty carry rights. But the attorney general has also stated that constables may be required to act as peace officers while off -duty.”
The Attorney General’s opinion that Representative Bliss referred to is from Mark Brnovich on July 22, 2016, answering questions presented by Pinal County Attorney Lando Voyles.
As Representative Bliss sees it, “this conundrum puts Arizona Constables in danger given that constables may be required to act as peace officers while off-duty, but are not allowed to carry a firearm while off duty in circumstances where other peace officers are allowed to carry.”
Last week, HB 2617 was considered by the House Military Affairs & Public Safety Committee and garnered thirteen votes in support – with two Democrat members voting “present.” No member of the committee voted in opposition to the legislation.
Addressing the committee’s overwhelmingly favorable vote for her bill, Representative Bliss said, “I believe the bipartisan vote out of committee occurred because we don’t want to put our constables in harm’s way. It makes logical sense that a constable who is an elected peace officer, sometimes still in uniform while on a break from duties, should have the option to protect themselves while off duty and to also be prepared to act as would any other off duty peace officer.”
This bill awaits further action in the Arizona House.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
We have always known that the left is strongly opposed to election integrity. In their hearts, they want voting to resemble how they select the best performers on American Idol—no security, no ID, no paper ballots, and no concern if someone decides to vote a few extra times.
Usually though, the left is pretty good at not saying this out loud. They couch their desires as supporting “voter access” or “expanded voting rights.” Very rarely do they reveal their true intentions of supporting open fraud in the system—yet they have now. And in open court no less…
During a State Senate briefing on Tuesday, True the Vote — the election integrity nonprofit behind the research for election fraud documentary “2000 Mules” — recommended Arizona clean up its voter rolls. Just several days before, Governor Doug Ducey vetoed a bill purging non-citizens and non-Arizonans from voter rolls.
The election integrity researchers also proposed an end to the mass mailing of ballots and drop boxes, as well as an increase in penalties for voter fraud. If ending the use of all drop boxes wasn’t feasible, the researchers proposed real-time video surveillance.
The bill vetoed by Ducey, HB2617, received support from House and Senate Republicans. It would’ve required the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) to submit information to the secretary of state every month regarding driver’s license or non-operating licenses issued in other states. Within 10 days, the secretary of state would then submit that information to the relevant county recorders to purge their voter rolls.
HB2617 would’ve also required the county recorder to compare their voter registration database to the Social Security Administration database on a monthly basis. Additionally, the secretary of state would’ve been required to report to the state legislature on a quarterly basis the death counts and voter registration cancellation notices issued to county recorders. Jury commissioners and managers would’ve been required to inform the secretary of state and their county recorder about individuals who indicated they weren’t U.S. citizens or living within the county.
The House and Senate may override Ducey’s veto with a two-thirds vote.
Ducey’s spokesman, C.J. Karamargin, said that the bill sponsor, State Representative Joseph Chaplik (R-Scottsdale), “knows” why Ducey vetoed the bill. Karamargin didn’t elaborate further.
In an explanatory letter, Ducey shared a concern that the legislation lacked due process for voters whose eligibility may be challenged, and that bad actors would capitalize on that aspect of the bill.
He criticized the bill’s implementation method as “vague” and lacking guidance for county recorders to execute properly. Ducey further criticized the residency determination provisions within the bill as subjective and lacking protections against false claims of non-residency.
Ducey didn’t object to the bill in its entirety. He commended the provisions directing ADOT, the secretary of state, and county recorders to communicate on proof of out-of-state licenses, new addresses, and non-citizenship.
Arizona Free Enterprise Club Vice President Aimee Yentes disagreed with Ducey’s concerns that the bill lacked due process for voters and that it would empower bad actors. However, Yentes expressed hope that they could work with Chaplik to bring a modified version of the bill more palatable to Ducey.
“This is a multi-pronged endeavor. You don’t fix all the numerous issues we have with election processes overnight or in just one session,” said Yentes.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
In his first veto of the 2022 legislative session, Gov. Doug Ducey unexpectedly shot down an election integrity bill introduced by Rep. Joseph Chaplik (R-Scottsdale) with overwhelming support of the House Republican caucus.
House Bill 2617 dealt with the removal of voters from each county’s voter rolls, focused on non-U.S. citizens and non-Arizona residents. But Ducey announced his veto in a letter to Senate President Karen Fann and House Speaker Rusty Bowers. on Friday.
“Our lawfully registered voters deserve to know that their right to vote will not be disturbed without sufficient due process,” Ducey wrote. “This provision leaves our election system vulnerable to bad actors who could seek to falsely allege a voter is not a qualified elector.”
Chaplik’s HB2617 mandated county recorders to remove voters from their rolls based on a “reason to believe” the voter is not a U.S. citizen or a resident of the county. Such removal could not occur until the end of a detailed process which ensured the voter in question had 90 days to present satisfactory evidence that the person is in fact qualified to vote in their registered county.
The bill also included new reporting requirements for all jury commissioners and the Arizona Department of Transportation to help identify people who may no longer be eligible to vote in a specific county or were never eligible to vote in Arizona.
However, Ducey’s veto letter pointed to several concerns with the legislation, including the level of proof threshold.
“The subjectivity of this provision, as well as a lack of guardrails against false claims, included in H.B. 2617 leaves voter registration susceptible to being canceled based on fiction rather than fact,” Ducey wrote to Fann and Bowers.
But Ducey’s criticisms did not sit well with supporters who saw Chaplik’s bill as a much needed and long overdue opportunity to establish confidence in the legitimacy of Arizona’s voter rolls.
AZGOP chair Kelli Ward called Ducey’s move “unAmerican” while Rep. Jacqueline Parker (R-Mesa) tweeted that the governor “apparently wants dead people to be able to vote again.”
Sam Stone, former Phoenix city staffer and current city council candidate, was “hugely disappointed” in Ducey’s veto and questioned the governor’s motives.
“Cleaning up our voter rolls is essential to secure elections,” Stone tweeted. “There is not one legitimate reason to leave people who have died or moved on our voter rolls, especially with automatic vote-by-mail.
Stone further suggested “the only reason to leave people who have died or moved on our voter rolls” is to commit voter fraud.
Ducey’s veto brought forth a more detailed rebuke from the Arizona Free Enterprise Club (AFEC).
“Contrary to what is stated in the veto letter, #HB2617 provides ample safeguards to ensure eligible voters do not have their registrations improperly cancelled,” AFEC tweeted after the veto was announced. “In fact, the bill stipulates that counties must confirm that the voter is ineligible, then requires the county to send a notice to the voter.”
It is only after the registered voter fails to respond to the notice within 90 days that the registration would be cancelled, AFEC pointed out.
“A broad coalition of local and national election integrity leaders signed onto a letter urging Governor Ducey to sign HB2617, and explained in great detail the need for the enhanced voter roll maintenance requirements and the safeguards contained in the measure,” AFEC further tweeted.
The letter referred to by in the tweet was signed by AFEC President Scot Mussi along with representatives of Heritage Action for America, America First Policy Institute, Election Transparency Initiative, Honest Elections Project Action, FreedomWorks, Amax ACTION, and the Foundation for Government Accountability.
Ducey noted he would consider signing a new voter roll bill with revised language if Chaplik and the rest of the Legislature wants to consider his feedback.
FreedomWorks activist Merissa Hamilton is among those hopeful Chaplik will consider the governor’s criticisms and reintroduce a new version of HB2617 this session. She said a path to clean voter rolls is “needed to secure our Arizona elections.”
