Arizona lawmakers tackled three separate measures Tuesday that would expand the rights of gun owners.
State senators voted to block cities from requiring background checks when people sell weapons at gun shows. But Senate Bill 1122 could be a moot issue because the Arizona Supreme Court is hearing arguments over whether cities have the right to set their own gun laws.
And separately, lawmakers voted to give business owners immunity from civil lawsuits if an armed patron kills or injuries someone. But that is only if their establishment is not posted as a “gun free zone.”
"Now we can hold a bar owner liable if he overserves somebody, and they go out and kill somebody drunk driving, for overserving that person," Senator Steve Farley said. "But now if somebody kills somebody or injures somebody with a gun after being overserved the bar owner's no longer liable if this goes through. I think that's a really, really bad idea."
The bill’s sponsor said there’s no reason a business owner, who wants their patrons to exercise their second amendment rights, should be liable if someone else acts irresponsibly. The measure now moves to the House.
