A measure that’s moving through the Arizona Legislature is being billed as a way for parents to defend themselves from school shooters while dropping their kids off, but it would also allow students who are at least 18 years old to keep a loaded weapon in their vehicle.
Republicans say the bill is about self defense. Republican Rep. Warren Peterson crafted the bill with the help of the National Rifle Association. He argued that criminals don’t care about the law and parents should be able to defend themselves. Judith Simons is a retired school teacher. She opposes the measure.
"Can you imagine a situation where tempers flare, people react in the heat of the moment? It has been documented that access to a gun is 18 times more likely than mental illness to result in gun violence," Simons said.
Simons also said the legislation, as worded, doesn’t just limit bringing a loaded weapon to campus. Currently, an adult can bring an unloaded weapon in their vehicle to a public school campus. The bill now goes to the full senate.