Member Center

The Main Stream

Governor vetoes bill allowing guns in buildings

Posted: Apr 17, 2012 6:34 PM

Bookmark and Share
Rating:

0.0 (0 votes)

PHOENIX (AP) - Gov. Jan Brewer has vetoed a bill that would have allowed guns in public buildings.

The governor's office announced the veto Tuesday. The bill proposed permitting gun owners to carry firearms into government facilities that lacked security.

The bill would have required the use of law enforcement officers or armed security guards with metal detectors or X-ray machines. Signs and storage lockers would also be needed.

In her veto letter, Brewer said the decision to allow guns into "sensitive places such as schools and government buildings" should be a decision reached cooperatively by citizens, law enforcement officials and local government leaders.

Supporters of the bill say citizens have a right to defend themselves.

Opponents of the bill say the measure would come at a huge cost to cities and towns.

Similarly, Brewer expressed concerns about the financial impact on jurisdictions across the state.

"They would face this choice: Either spend untold dollars in order to provide their officials and employees the same level of protection that we have at the Arizona State Capitol complex, or accept weapons on the premises," Brewer wrote.

Brewer also said the bill would have led to confusion as to which public buildings accept or ban weapons.

Brewer vetoed a similar bill last year. She said this version failed to address the majority of her previous concerns.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, nine states have similar gun laws to what Arizona lawmakers had proposed.

Comments

KVOA.com is Social!

Most Popular

DON'T MISS THESE!

Thumbnail
FC TUCSON

Check out the latest events FC Tucson has scheduled.

Thumbnail
SEASON 4 HOPE

Help those in need this holiday season

Thumbnail
SUBMIT NEWS TIP

Click here to submit a news tip to us!

Thumbnail
NEWS 4 TUCSON ON FACEBOOK

Become a Facebook Fan!

Thumbnail
@KVOA ON TWITTER

Follow us!

Thumbnail
BECOME A MEMBER

Sign up on KVOA.com for newsletters, exclusive deals, and more!

Thumbnail
KVOA.COM LATEST CONTESTS

Win! Win! Win!

Thumbnail
KVOA MOBILE APPS

Get news, weather and more on your smartphone and tablet!

Thumbnail
TEXT ALERTS

Get texts for news, traffic, deals and more!

Thumbnail
KRISTI'S KIDS

Stories and videos with Kristi's Kids

Thumbnail
NEWS 4 TUCSON @ 4

What's happening on News 4 @ 4

Thumbnail
ADVERTISE WITH KVOA.COM

Let us help grow your business

Thumbnail
COMMUNITY CALENDAR

What's happening?

Thumbnail
KVOA PROGRAM SCHEDULE

What's on KVOA and when!

Thumbnail
CONTACT US

Contact info for our department heads

Thumbnail
FCC ONLINE PUBLIC FILE

FCC Public File of Records, Reports, and More

Thumbnail
MEET US!

KVOA's on air personalities!

Thumbnail
KVOA CAREERS

Work at News 4 Tucson

Thumbnail
RSS FEEDS

Complete feeds of all KVOA.com stories