Arizona Republican lawmakers in the House Judiciary Committee narrowly passed a bill that would peel back “Shannon’s Law,” which protects communities from random gunfire.
Currently, the law passed in 2000, makes it a felony to randomly fire a gun in the air.
Republican Rep. Tony Rivero called the law overreaching and unfair when compared to laws involving Arizona motorists.
"People have hundreds of automobile accidents in the Valley area every day,'' he told members of the House Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety Wednesday. "Yet, we rarely treat them as criminal depending on the circumstances.''
Republican Rep. Maria Syms voted against the bill after pointing out the law already protects gun users who accidentally fire a weapon.
"Is anyone really prosecuted for an accident? Or are they being prosecuted for what the statute says: criminal negligence, which is a higher standard?'' Syms asked.
County Attorney Bill Montgomery said he also opposes the proposal. An inquiry at his office could not find a single case where someone was wrongfully prosecuted for accidentally firing a gun.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been modified to correct the political party of Rep. Maria Syms.