Volume 2024, Issue 3 – August 2024
What We’re Up Against
If you regularly read AzCDL’s newsletters and e-mail alerts, you’ve no doubt noticed that I have written often about the major political developments within Arizona over the last two years (Awakening the Sleeping Giant, November, 2023; Winds of Change, August, 2023; An Uphill Slog, May, 2023; Fighting an Uphill Battle, February, 2023). We’ve told you about the governor’s plans to take control of the state legislature, giving her the ability to pass all manner of anti-rights legislation. We’ve explained the financial windfall she and her cohorts will use to get anti-rights candidates elected in November. And we’ve reported on the governor’s outrageous new record number of vetoes last year.
On the positive side, we’ve also covered how AzCDL is responding to all of this and the alliances we’ve made with other powerful organizations that will help us deal with these challenges.
In election years, everyone’s attention turns to the candidates and this issue focuses on our biennial report of legislative voting records. If you aren’t sure who your friends are in the legislature, the tables on pages 2 and 3 should make it clear. Unfortunately, it is also clear to those that would decimate your right to keep and bear arms.
Everytown for Gun Safety, the anti-gun group founded by former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg, will spend $45 million over the coming months to elect favored candidates in eight states, including Arizona. The candidates they favor will not be ones that work to preserve your rights. Included in this effort will be hiring 30 organizers for a new student- recruitment program that will hold drives at 32 college and university campuses across Arizona, California, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The majority of the funding will be spent on TV and on-iine advertising.
Bloomberg himself has donated $19 million this year alone to Future Forward, a super PAC supporting Kamala Harris, while Everytown is spending $60 million to defeat Donald Trump and to elect more democrats at all levels that support gun regulation.
Everytown’s political networks, including Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action have already endorsed Harris, an ex-prosecutor with a penchant for using law enforcement as a tool to get her way. Everytown’s “Demand a Seat” program has been recruiting activists and survivors of violence to run for public office.
Everything about these organizations is fraudulent. If they really wanted to promote “gun safety,” they’d be encouraging the safe and responsible ownership and operation of firearms but they are actually looking to severely limit their use. Harris, and the down- ballot candidates she supports, do not represent “gun sense champions,” but gun-ban champions.
If you want to do something to stop these gun-grabbers from coming after your firearms, the time to act is now. Support candidates that support your right to keep and bear arms. Send them a few dollars. Talk to your friends and neighbors about them. And, as Mike Infanzon argues in his article on page 4, get out there and vote for them.
And, of course, AzCDL needs your support, too. We will always fight for your freedom in the Arizona legislature and in the courts, but to do that we need everyone onboard. While you are talking to your friends and neighbors, get them to join AzCDL, too.
—Michael Gibbs AzCDL President
Why Your Vote Matters
Hey there, AzCDL members and all firearm owners! Let’s have a little chat about something that might make your eyes roll but is crucial nonetheless—voting. Yes, I know, it’s not as thrilling as a day at the range or the anticipation of dropping an elk, but trust me, it’s just as important. Let’s break down why being a registered voter, staying informed, and actually showing up at the polls should be at the top of your to-do list.
Voter Turnout: Arizona, We Have a Problem
In my legislative district, the voter turnout in a recent election was a dismal 26.64%. Let that sink in for a moment. That means roughly a quarter of eligible voters decided the fate of our laws, leaders, and policies. Imagine if only a quarter of your hunting buddies showed up for a hunt—would you even bother? Probably not, because it’s the combined effort that makes the hunt successful. Voting is no different. Your participation is crucial, and when you don’t show up, you leave your fate in the hands of others.
The Impact of Gun Owners on Elections
Here’s a statistic that might make you cringe: 133,094 gun owners in Arizona are not registered to vote (thank you, Women for Gun Rights for the data). Considering we are a state where an estimated 46.3% of adults have guns at home, this is mind-boggling. If all these gun owners were registered and voted, they could swing elections, influence policies, and ensure that our rights are protected. But instead, they sit on the sidelines, letting a small percentage of the population make decisions that affect everyone.
The Margins Are Slim—Your Vote Can Make a Difference
Don’t believe your vote matters? Think again. Look at the 2022 election results for some of Arizona’s tightest races: • In the U.S. Senate race, Mark Kelly defeated Blake Masters by just 125,719 votes, a margin of 4.89%. • In the 1st Congressional District, David Schweikert won by a mere 0.88 percentage points. • The 6th Congressional District saw Juan Ciscomani win by only 1.5 percentage points. These razor-thin margins show that every vote counts. Imagine if the 133,094 unregistered gun owners had cast their ballots—these races could have had very different outcomes.
Why Should You Care?
As gun owners, hunters, and advocates for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, the policies and leaders we vote for directly impact our rights and freedoms. Arizona is a firearm-friendly state, but that didn’t happen by accident. It took active participation from AzCDL members at the polls to vote to elect legislators who in turn pass laws like the 2010 statute allowing concealed carry without a permit. However, the landscape can change quickly if we become complacent.
The Financial Angle: Conservation and Hunting
Let’s not forget the financial impact. The drop-off in revenue from hunting licenses poses a problem for conservation groups. The 1937 Pittman-Robertson Act, which placed an 11% excise tax on firearms sales for conservation efforts, relies heavily on active participation from hunters and gun owners. With fewer people buying licenses, funding for conservation dwindles, affecting our wildlife and natural resources. And this includes our public ranges.
Arizona is one of the top states for big game hunting, with species like pronghorn, black bear, and elk attracting hunters from all over. In 2021, Arizona issued 349,554 paid hunting licenses, generating significant revenue for conservation. But if voter turnout remains low, the policies that support these activities could be threatened, indirectly affecting our beloved outdoor activities.
How to Register and Vote
Ready to make a change? Here’s how you can register to vote in Arizona: 1. Visit vote.gov/register/arizona. 2. Follow the simple steps to complete your registration. 3. Mark your calendar for upcoming elections and make a plan to vote.
Stay Informed and Get Involved
Being a registered voter is the first step. The next is staying informed. Follow the candidates, understand their policies, and think critically about how their platforms align with your values and interests as a gun owner and outdoor enthusiast. Join local forums, attend town hall meetings, and engage with your community. Each legislative session AzCDL reports on the voting records of your legislators to make it a little easier to identify our political friends (see pages 2 and 3).
The Power of Community
Voting is not just a solitary act; it’s a communal one. Imagine the power we could wield if every eligible gun owner in Arizona voted. We could ensure that our rights are protected, our voices heard, and our interests represented.
So, to all my fellow AzCDL members, let’s not be the silent majority. Let’s be the roaring force that turns the tide. Register to vote, stay informed, and most importantly, vote! Because if we don’t, someone else will, and we won’t like the results. And remember that “The world is run by those who show up.”
Voting is not just a civic duty; it’s a powerful tool to protect our rights, influence policies, and ensure a future where our interests are safeguarded. So, let’s get out there and make our voices heard. Your vote matters, and together, we can make a difference.
Shoot straight!
—Michael Infanzon, EPIC Policy Group AzCDL Chief Lobbyist
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The Good Fight
Last year, AzCDL President Mike Gibbs let the membership know we now have another weapon in our arsenal by adding litigation. Here are updates on three issues we are currently working.
CITY OF PHOENIX
Phoenix Ordinance S-50010 aimed to transfer 500- 600 unclaimed firearms to the National Police of Ukraine but has faced significant legal challenges. Attorney General Kris Mayes determined the transfer conflicted with statutes requiring unclaimed firearms to be sold to authorized businesses rather than donated or destroyed. Following this determination, lawmakers, including Representatives Quang Nguyen and Selina Bliss, filed a complaint under SB1487, which allows legislators to request investigations into the legality of local government actions.
In response, the Phoenix City Council repealed the ordinance, acknowledging the findings and the need to comply with laws governing firearm disposal. The council had to backtrack to avoid potential legal and financial repercussions. As of now, the firearms have not been sent to auction and we are still working to get an answer as to their actual location.
PIMA COUNTY
A Pima County ordinance requiring gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms within 48 hours or face fines up to $1,000 is being challenged by AzCDL and AzCDL member, USAF veteran, and NRA- certified instructor Chris King. The county claimed the ordinance was to aid law enforcement in tracking stolen firearms and preventing their use in crimes.
Our lawsuit, filed by the Goldwater Institute, argues that the ordinance violates state law, which generally prohibits local governments from enacting their own firearm regulations and seeks to have the ordinance invalidated. For the most current updates on the lawsuit and ordinance status, follow legal announcements from both AzCDL and the Goldwater Institute https://www.goldwaterinstitute.org/case/fighting-an-illegal-firearms-mandate/
JOE FOSS SHOOTING COMPLEX
Oh boy, is this a cluster mess. We are still actively working on fighting to ensure that the Joe Foss Shooting Complex remains available to the public as it was put into the Buckeye Hills Recreation Area Master Plan back in February of 1971. We will offer a more in-depth update on all these matters at the annual meeting in October. Until then, keep an eye on the updates on the website at https://azcdl.org/.