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2 Arizona House Measures Allowing Loaded Guns In More Places Head To Full Senate

An Arizona Senate panel has approved a House measure, HB 2551, allowing more than 390,000 Arizonans with permits to carry a loaded concealed weapon into most public buildings.

Its Republican proponents say it gives Arizonans a chance to defend themselves against potentially armed assailants.

But Democratic Sen. Martín Quezada believes it’s dangerous to give the average gun owner a hero complex.

"This idea that a random gun owner is going to have the skill, the ability to control their motor control, their adrenaline surge and their emotions in the highest of stress situations and hit their target without hurting themselves or hurting others is kind of ridiculous," Quezada said. 

The bill’s sponsor, Republican Rep. John Kavanagh, says opponents are overly worried, pointing out the existing law that allows current and retired police officers to ignore “no weapons” signs in public buildings. 

A similar pro-gun measure, HB 2840, was also passed allowing people to bring loaded guns onto school grounds as long as they leave them in a locked vehicle.

Both measures now head to the full Senate.

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Jill Ryan joined KJZZ in 2020 as a morning reporter, and she is currently a field correspondent and Morning Edition producer.