At the Arizona Citizens Defense League (AzCDL), our mission is to protect your right to keep and bear arms. One way we do this is by ensuring that Arizona’s strong preemption laws are respected by every municipality across our state.
Cities or counties violate preemption laws when they enact or enforce laws that conflict with state statutes governing firearms. Arizona law is clear: municipalities are prohibited from enacting local ordinances that regulate firearms more restrictively than state law. This ensures consistency and fairness in the protection of your rights, no matter where you are in Arizona.
We’re pleased to report a recent victory in Eloy. AzCDL identified firearms prohibitions in its City Parks Rules and Regulations, violating Arizona’s preemption law. Upon contacting their legal counsel, we received confirmation that, “The City of Eloy will be immediately removing from its website and its City Parks Rules and Regulations all regulations which prohibit firearms and concealed weapons.”
This is a positive step, and we thank the City of Eloy for quickly addressing and correcting this issue. It’s a great example of how proactive, respectful engagement can yield results that protect the rights of law-abiding gun owners.
But we’re not stopping here. There are many additional cities and towns in our sights where local ordinances are inconsistent with Arizona law. Each of these violations undermines the uniformity and fairness that preemption is meant to uphold.
AzCDL is committed to identifying and addressing these violations across the state. With your support, we will continue to:
- Investigate potential violations of Arizona’s preemption law.
- Engage municipalities to bring their local codes into compliance with state law.
- Hold cities accountable if they refuse to follow the law, including taking legal action when necessary.
Your voice and membership are critical to this fight. Together, we can ensure that Arizona remains a leader in protecting the rights of responsible gun owners.
How You Can Help:
- If you’re aware of a city or town ordinance that might violate state preemption laws, let us know!
- Share this message with other firearms owners to grow our collective voice.
Thank you for standing with AzCDL. Together, we are safeguarding our rights and holding local governments accountable. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue this important work.
In liberty,
Michael Infanzon
Chief Lobbyist, Arizona Citizens Defense League