Arizona State Representatives Quang Nguyen and Selina Bliss are making headlines as they push for Attorney General Kris Mayes to investigate a gun ordinance in Sedona. The legal tussle centers around the City of Sedona's Ordinance 12.30.090, which bans firearms on trails and open spaces, and whether it stands in conflict with Arizona's firearm regulations. Citing Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-3108, Nguyen and Bliss argue that the city's move oversteps state law which curtails local government's reach over gun regulation.
In a letter addressed to the Attorney General, the duo has called for a review of Sedona's ordinance, claiming both its terms "trail" and "open space area" to be unclear, casting a net wider than what is legally permitted. They have requested that Mayes deliver a written report within 30 days, the timeline that's mandated by law, to clarify this ambiguity. Furthermore, they have recommended judicial intervention if necessary, to safeguard Second Amendment rights, according to the State Capitol, Phoenix.
"The City of Sedona has had ample time to address these concerns and has chosen not to act," Representative Nguyen, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, stated. The two legislators have made it clear that there would be no need for further measures if Sedona repeals the ordinance of its own accord. This development comes after a month without a response from the City to earlier concerns raised by Nguyen, testing the waters of state versus local governance boundaries when it comes to firearm laws, as reported by the State Capitol, Phoenix.
An ordinance like Sedona's puts both legislators and local governments in a difficult position, as balancing public safety and constitutional rights is always contentious. This situation highlights the ongoing debate over local control versus state authority. With Second Amendment rights at stake, attention will be on how Attorney General Mayes handles the issue and whether Sedona's gun-free zones will be upheld or overturned by state law.
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