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Arizona Congressional Delegation: No New Gun Laws

Published: Monday, March 5, 2018 - 9:44am
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Despite town hall meetings featuring pleas from students and parents demanding changes in gun laws on Capitol Hill, members of Arizona’s congressional delegation say there’s little appetite for real change in Washington, D.C.

It has been just over two weeks since Nikolas Cruz shot and killed 17 students in Parkland, Florida. Since then, dozens of gun bills have been introduced in the U.S. Senate, but so far none have passed.    

Sen. Jeff Flake said President Donald Trump’s leadership is critical in order to pass any legislation.

"There just wasn’t much enthusiasm, but that can change. I think we ought to move ahead anyway," said Sen. Flake. "We’re a separate branch. We ought to pass legislation and put it on his desk." 

Tucson Democratic Congressman Raul Grijalva said he doesn’t believe the Republican majority in Congress will put forth any meaningful legislation that restrains firearms.

"This is the same group over here in the Republicans who tried to have a piece of legislation to promote and they pulled it to allow silencers on our public lands and to allow armor-piercing ammunition on our public lands," said Rep. Grijalva. "Arming teachers is not a solution to the gun violence in this country and the mass slaughters that we’ve seen. Raising the age to 21 is not a solution. It’s a baby step."    

As KJZZ reported in late February, Arizona’s legislature refused to even hear legislation that would ban bump stocks in the state.