“Elections Have Consequences”
—Dave Kopp (and many others over the years)
November Will Be Here Before You Know It
It’s easy to feel jaded about elections. Some think their votes don’t matter. Some think elections are rigged. Some recall the old saw that you can tell when a politician is lying because their lips are moving. Here are some things to consider, though.
Food for Thought
In her first year in office, Katie Hobbs vetoed 143 bills, some of which were good, pro-rights measures passed by our friends in the legislature. The following year, she issued 73 more.
In 2025 she set an all-time, single-session record of 174 vetoes.
This year, she tried again to wear out her VETO stamp by slamming it down another 151 times. That’s right—Katie Hobbs has vetoed 541 bills since taking office.
Dozens of bills—bringing firearm safety training and the FASTER Saves Lives program to schools, allowing law-abiding CCW permit holders to carry firearms on college campuses, correcting discrepancies between state and federal lists of prohibited weapons (suppressors), preventing financial institutions from categorizing firearm-related purchases for tracking and more—fell at the governor’s chopping block this year.
Over in the legislature, anti-rights lawmakers introduced 29 bills in the 2026 session alone that would roll back your right to arms. Thanks to the strong leadership of friendly legislators and the constant efforts of AzCDL’s lobbyists, all of them were killed in committee without reaching the governor’s desk, but you can be sure she would have signed every one of them if given the chance.
No Debate
Hobbs doesn’t want her anti-rights record to be highlighted on stage as she has refused to publicly debate her general election challenger, Andy Biggs. In years past, she has also refused to debate primary challenger Marco Lopez and gubernatorial hopeful Kari Lake. Instead, she plans to tour the state and meet with certain invited guests to solicit their views on various topics. It seems unlikely that any of those “invited guests” will be among those of us supporting the right to keep and bear arms.
AzCDLPAC
One of the most important things we have on our side is a state legislature that is friendly to gun owners. That doesn’t happen by accident and it’s not by a large margin. That’s where the AzCDLPAC comes in. The PAC’s job is to help elect candidates that support the rights of gun owners and maintain a majority of them in the legislature.
You can help in that effort. Please see the article by Chris Knox on page 4 on the importance of your vote. Just as AzCDL is a force of nature at the Capitol, AzCDLPAC will become one at the voting booth, with your support.
All of this is possible only with your support. If you are able to, please make a donation today to keep us doing the good work for Arizona firearms owners.
Get Out the Vote
Are you registered to vote at your current address? If not, there’s still time to make your voice heard. See the GunVote information on page 2 for more information.
Vote like your right to keep and bear arms depends upon it. Because it does.
—Michael Gibbs
AzCDL President
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How Your Legislators Voted—the 2026 Scorecard
Politicians are good at making promises but the rubber meets the road when they vote on the bills that impact your rights. Each year, AzCDL tracks the legislation that is most important to gun owners and how every lawmaker votes on those bills.
AzCDL does not endorse candidates for office but we help members make good voting choices by publishing voting records so you can see for yourself which legislators truly represent your interests at the state Capitol.
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Are you registered to vote?
Not sure? GunVote can help you register and find election data for your area.
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Firearms Preemption Is Only as Strong as Its Enforcement
Statewide Preemption
Arizona law establishes a statewide framework for firearm regulation. Cities, towns, counties, parks departments, police agencies, and other political subdivisions generally may not create separate rules governing the possession, carrying, transportation, sale, transfer, storage, discharge, or use of firearms.
An inconsistent or more restrictive local ordinance is legally null and void. Arizona law also permits affected citizens and organizations to seek declaratory relief, an injunction, actual damages, attorney fees, and costs. Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-3108(A), (D), (H), (K) (2026).
That sounds clear. The practical problem is that preemption does not enforce itself.
An outdated ordinance may remain in a municipal code. A park may continue displaying a “No Firearms” sign. A police department may rely on an old training bulletin. A facility may impose a storage or entry policy that exceeds the authority granted by state law. Citizens often comply because they do not want to risk detention, citation, firearm seizure, or legal expense.
A restriction can be invalid and still influence conduct.
Arizona Firearms Preemption Compliance Project
To address that problem, I have been working on what my office has labeled the Arizona Firearms Preemption Compliance Project. The project examines local ordinances, park rules, administrative policies, facility signs, event conditions, police directives, and firearm-disposition practices across Arizona.
The first phase focuses on identifying firearm-related provisions in city, town, and county codes. Each provision is compared with Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-3108 and related state laws. The review distinguishes between restrictions that are expressly authorized, such as certain park-discharge rules, and local prohibitions affecting possession or carrying.
The second phase examines what local governments are doing beyond their published codes. Public-records requests are used to obtain park manuals, police policies, sign inventories, training materials, event-permit conditions, firearm-storage procedures, enforcement records, and communications concerning questioned restrictions. This takes a little more time to complete. Government entities don’t like giving up documentation.
When a potential violation is verified, the project supports a structured cure process. That has included written notices to the responsible departments, formal cure letters to the governing body, requests for ordinance repeal, sign removal, policy revision, or corrected employee guidance. Unresolved matters may be presented to state legislators for review under Arizona Revised Statutes § 41-194.01 or evaluated for civil enforcement.
We need your help!
The project needs information from people who encounter these restrictions. If you see a firearm-prohibition sign or questionable rule on city or county property, please report it and include:
• The city or county
• The exact location
• A clear photograph of the sign or written policy
• The date it was observed
• A link to the ordinance or facility rule (if available)
and
• A description of any contact with an employee or law-enforcement officer.
Do not assume someone else has already reported it. One photograph may identify an outdated sign. Several reports may establish a continuing enforcement practice.
Firearms preemption protects statewide legal uniformity only when violations are identified, documented, and corrected. Arizona has the law. This AzCDL project is about making sure local practice follows it.
We fight together.
—Michael Infanzon, EPIC Policy Group
AzCDL Chief Lobbyist
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AzCDL’s 2026 Annual Meeting is Saturday, October 17th!
The AzCDL Annual Meeting of Members will be held at Elks Lodge #335 on Saturday, October 17th. The lodge is located at 14424 N. 32nd Street in Phoenix.
Informative and fun, the meeting will include a silent auction, guest speakers, legislative updates, door prizes, networking with fellow firearm enthusiasts, and, of course, a delicious BBQ lunch.
AzCDL is an all-volunteer organization and we could use your help to organize and conduct the annual meeting. If you would like to help, please call event coordinator Colleen Bathe at (559) 769-5600 or e-mail her at batheazusa@proton.me. You can also e-Mail Mike Gibbs at president@azcdl.org.
We are collecting items for auction, if you have something you’d like to donate or know vendors that do, please contact Retta Wilson at (843) 323-5047 (please text before calling).
Early-bird tickets and vendor tables will go on sale soon. Watch your e-mail for additional information and guest speaker announcements!
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VOTE! And Bring Friends
If you’re reading this, you’re probably a member of the pro-rights choir. You’re registered to vote. You know who your elected servants are, and you probably have a pretty good idea of where they stand on the issues that matter most to you. You may not describe yourself as a one-issue voter, but it seems that anyone that isn’t smart enough to understand the importance of the right to arms probably isn’t smart enough to understand a lot of other important issues. That’s great! Your vote will make a difference!
But…
You could be making a bigger difference for the candidates who DO understand the importance of the right to arms. You can’t vote twice but you can multiply the power of your vote simply by getting your buddies to vote! Don’t accept the usual excuses.
“One vote won’t make any difference!”
(It most assuredly DOES)
“I don’t want to be on a list!”
(Friend, you’re already on several lists)
“They’re all crooks!”
(That could be, but one set of crooks is running on taking your gun rights away)
“Everybody knows Arizona elections are fixed!”
(There’s a saying in combat sports: “Don’t leave it up to the referee.” Those “irregularities” can be washed away with a good pro-rights turnout.)
Arizona is one election away from being another Virginia or Colorado—formerly free states that now limit magazine capacities, ban common rifles, and claim they’ll reduce crime by making you, the honest gun owner, jump through more and more paperwork hoops and disarming you if they can.
Don’t let it happen here!
—Chris Knox
AzCDL Secretary
AzCDLPAC Board of Directors
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Listen to the Copper Dome Update: 2A Edition Every Friday on Substack
Your right to keep and bear arms deserves more than headlines—it deserves context, clarity, and a voice you can trust.
Join host Michael Infanzon, AzCDL’s Chief Lobbyist, for a weekly breakdown of legislative action, court rulings, and policy developments that affect Arizona gun owners. Each episode delivers facts, not fluff—equipping you with the information you need to defend your rights and hold elected officials accountable.
New episodes drop every Friday. Listen on Substack: Copper Dome Update – 2A Edition
http://Michaelinfanzon.substack.com
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Are You Registered to Vote?
In order to vote you must be registered to do so at your current address.
If you are unsure if you are registered to vote, the National Shooting Sports Foundation can help you check:
You can register to vote on-line at the Service Arizona website:
https://servicearizona.com/VoterRegistration
Contact information for your local election office is available on-line:
https://azsos.gov/elections/about-elections/county-election-officials-contact-information
Complete instructions on how to register can be found here:
https://azsos.gov/sites/default/files/docs/az_voter_registration_form_standard_20240613.pdf
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ARE YOU ONE OF THEM?
133,000 Arizona gun owners and hunters are NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE!
If you are one of the many shooters who think, “This is Arizona, it can’t happen here,” it’s time to think again.
Pro-rights legislators have only a slim majority in the state legislature. If either chamber “flips,” everything we’ve accomplished in the last 21 years could be lost in a single session!
In tight elections, even a small number of votes can mean the difference between a gun-friendly legislature and one bent on restricting your rights.
Register to vote today, then vote for those that will protect your right to keep and bear arms!