Arizona Senators voted Wednesday to allow two new exemptions that would affect Shannon’s Law, which makes random or celebratory gunfire a felony.
One measure would allow people with a kind of small caliber shot to kill snakes and small mammals at close range. The other would raise the legal standard required to prosecute someone for shooting inside city limits.
The bill’s sponsor said the current wording could allow someone to be prosecuted for the “accidental” discharge of a firearm. Like the example given by lobbyist Dave Kopp with the Arizona Citizens Defense League.
"I wouldn't classify it as playing with a gun. He was trying to clear the chamber," Kopp said. "Again, I would agree with you that's probably not the place to do that. But, again, it was a stupid thing to do. It wasn't a criminal thing to do. And nobody was hurt."
Shannon’s aunt, Edith Smith, spoke to try and dissuade lawmakers from changing the law. She said the law has worked well for 17 years and should not be changed.