Two Republican state representatives are asking Attorney General Kris Mayes to investigate whether Phoenix broke the law by donating unclaimed firearms to the National Police of Ukraine.
Reps. Quang Nguyen and Selina Bliss cite a state law that requires such firearms to be sold or traded, not donated.
In late June, Phoenix City Council passed an ordinance donating up to 600 unclaimed firearms, citing a similar move by the Miami Police Department.
Nguyen and Bliss wrote a letter to Mayor Kate Gallego and the City Council to repeal the ordinance.
The city of Phoenix attorney responded to that initial letter on Aug. 16. In that letter, the city's Attorney Julie M. Kriegh wrote that Phoenix still intends to move forward with the ordinance.
In response, Mayor Gallego says "In the past, the City of Phoenix and the State of Arizona have lawfully transferred law enforcement items to equivalent agencies, and this situation is no different. The State Legislature welcomed support for Ukraine through similar actions under former Governor Ducey, and this transfer was done under the same logic and intent."
Nguyen says the key difference is that Ducey did not send firearms like the city is doing now.
