Arizona Legal professional Common Kris Mayes proved Wednesday that she understands it’s not her job to make the legislation.
That’s as much as the Arizona Legislature.
It’s, nevertheless, her job to sometimes interpret the legislation when numerous authorities jurisdictions have a disagreement over it.
And that’s what she did.
Despite the fact that she didn’t prefer it.
Good intentions might be thwarted by a nasty legislation
Some time again the Metropolis of Phoenix struck a deal to transfer more than 500 unclaimed guns in Phoenix police’s possession to a non-public firm that might then export them to Ukraine.
Laudable, little doubt.
However … not authorized.
Not below Arizona legislation, which says all such weapons are to be offered to a federal firearms license holder.
Mayes disagrees with this legislation, as she ought to.
What an AG has in frequent with a contortionist
However it was handed by the Legislature and signed into legislation by the governor and, except it’s revised or revoked, we’re caught with it.
So Mayes issued an opinion saying Phoenix can’t do what it needs to do with the weapons.
In a press release the lawyer basic mentioned partially, “The Metropolis of Phoenix tried to scale back the variety of weapons on its streets whereas concurrently supporting the courageous Ukrainians combating for freedom within the face of Russian aggression. Whereas the Metropolis’s intent right here is commendable, the Legislature has chosen to ban the sort of artistic resolution. As an alternative of submitting complaints towards cities like Phoenix, members of the legislature ought to give attention to passing wise gun laws. Sound gun disposal laws ought to purpose to maintain Arizonans protected whereas permitting native leaders to determine the easiest way to do away with weapons which have been used within the fee of against the law, primarily based on what their communities want and wish.”
The job to which Mayes was elected generally requires an sincere officeholder, one for which her oath means one thing, to be a statutory contortionist.
That was the case right here when, with a view to uphold the legislation, Mayes additionally needed to maintain her nostril.
Attain Montini at [email protected].
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This text initially appeared on Arizona Republic: Attorney General Mayes does good by backing bad gun law