Ms. Pickens,
The Arizona Republic attributed these comments to you:
"The real issue here is whether my community has the right to determine where it is OK to have guns," said Rep. Marion Pickens, D-Tucson, which has banned guns in city parks. Tempe has a ban on weapons along Mill Avenue. "We shouldn't be telling our local communities what is safe and what isn't."
Are you suggesting localities should have the power to administer rights protected at the Constitutional level? Rights such as speech, speedy trials, search and seizure, due process, along with bearing arms, etc.? If so, that would be wrong, and against the principles of our governmental system. Perhaps you never actually made those remarks.
You may be pleasantly surprised to know that guns are already totally banned in city parks under both federal and state laws:
ILLEGAL for unsupervised minor to have gun in city park
ILLEGAL for felons to have gun in city park
ILLEGAL for any prohibited person to have gun in city park
ILLEGAL for anyone attempting a crime to have gun in city park
ILLEGAL for illegal alien to have gun in city park
ILLEGAL for rapist to have gun in city park
ILLEGAL for mugger to have gun in city park
ILLEGAL for domestic violence perpetrator to have gun in city park
ILLEGAL for gang member to have gun in city park
The list goes on, I'm happy to say. It is a long list, and perhaps will change you opinion about existing laws prohibiting guns in city parks.
It is NOT illegal, however, for YOU to have a gun in a city park, nor for me. Is that what you seek to ban, your own right to carry a firearm in defense of yourself or the state, as guaranteed in the Arizona Constitution?
Constitution of the State of Arizona Section 26. Bearing Arms. "The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself or the state shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain, or employ an armed body of men."
Since it's common knowledge that newspapers occassionally don't get things right, please clarify your position for me.
Thank you very much.
Alan Korwin, Author
The Arizona Gun Owner's Guide
Alan Korwin
BLOOMFIELD PRESS
"We publish the gun laws."
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