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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, First Regular Session
unenforceable federal laws; second amendment
Purpose
Declares specified federal acts that violate the U.S. or Arizona Constitutions' right to bear arms as unenforceable in Arizona and assigns related penalties.
Background
The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides "a well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed" (U.S. Const. amd. 2).
The Arizona Constitution prohibits the impairment of the right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of the person's self or the state. This does not authorize individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of people (Ariz. Const. art. 2 § 26).
For a class 1 misdemeanor, the maximum sentence is six months and the maximum fine is $2,500 (A.R.S. §§ 13-707 and 13-802). For a class 6 felony, the maximum sentence is: 1) one and a half years for a first-time felony offender or category one repetitive offender; 2) two and a quarter years for a category two repetitive offender; or 3) four and a half years for a category three repetitive offender (A.R.S. §§ 13-702 and 13-703).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Declares an act, law, treaty, order, rule or regulation of the U.S. government that violates the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution or Article II, Section 26 of the Arizona Constitution null, void and unenforceable in Arizona.
2. Prohibits the state and a political subdivision from using any personnel or financial resources to enforce, administer or cooperate with any act, law, treaty, order, rule or regulation of the U.S. government that violates the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution or Article II, Section 26 of the Arizona Constitution.
3. Classifies the first offense of impairment of a citizen's right to bear arms as a class 1 misdemeanor and each subsequent offense as a class 6 felony.
4. Requires the court to impose the maximum fine and sentence on a person convicted of impairment of a citizen's right to bear arms.
5. States that a government entity, agency, bureau, employee or official, or a person working under the authority or orders of a government entity, agency, bureau, employee or official commits an impairment of a citizen's right to bear arms by enforcing or attempting to enforce an act, law, treaty, order, rule or regulation of the U.S. government that is null, void and unenforceable by this statute.
6. Allows a government entity, agency, bureau, employee or official, or a person working under the authority of orders of a government entity, agency, bureau, employee or official that commits an impairment of a citizen's right to bear arms pursuant to this statute to be sued by any citizen in superior court for declarative and injunctive relief, damages and attorney fees.
7. Contains legislative findings.
8. Allows the act to be cited as the Second Amendment Firearm Freedom Act.
9. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 9, 2021
JA/RC/kja