Earlier this year, laws to ban minors from possessing or purchasing brass knuckles went into effect in Chandler and Gilbert. Now, the city of Tempe wants to follow suit.
According to the city, Tempe residents had expressed concern about teen violence cases involving brass knuckles.
The ordinance would update city code to prohibit the possession and sale of brass knuckles, or any similar device.
Bridget Vega of Gilbert spoke in favor of the ban at a Tempe council meeting this week.
“We must confront the uncomfortable truths within our communities. We cannot turn a blind eye to teen violence nor the struggles our teens face every day. I stand here to be a voice for the voiceless and for the children. We as a community support the brass knuckle ordinance," she said.
Vega said she hopes politicians from both sides of the aisle can agree on the issue. The Tempe City Council will hold a final public hearing on the ordinance next Thursday.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The story has been updated to correct that the Tempe ordinance applies to everyone.
