Arizona Senate approves two gun bills

April 16, 2013

The Arizona Senate approved a pair of gun-related bills Tuesday. One of the bills would ban Arizona police departments from destroying guns in their possession and require those agencies to sell them under most circumstances.

Critics argued it is wrong to sell a gun that has been used in a crime. Tucson Democrat David Bradley said the bill is a waste of time.

"Our citizenry demands a conversation about guns, and what do we do? We make sure that guns used in crimes can be sold to generate revenue," Bradley said. "Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant idea."

Supporters argued destroying those guns will not prevent crimes. Peoria Republican Rick Murphy said the state does not require anything that may have been involved in someone’s death be destroyed, and he said guns should not be treated differently.

"It’s not appropriate to tell taxpayers that they must subsidize, with their dollars, the destruction of useful property for no good reason, to accomplish nothing, other than make people feel good," Murphy said.

The bill passed Tuesday on a near party-line vote. The Senate also approved a measure to prevent governments from keeping lists of gun owners, and gun transactions involving federally-licensed dealers. That, too, passed on a near party-line vote.