The Latest: High court needs more info on Tucson gun law
The Latest on a challenge to Tucson’s gun destruction policy (all times local):
5 p.m.
The Arizona Supreme Court needs more information from lawyers before it can decide whether a Tucson law requiring seized guns to be destroyed violates state law.
The court met Tuesday to consider whether to take up a case filed by Attorney General Mark Brnovich that is the first use of a new state law withholding state funds from cities if they enact laws conflicting with state laws.
The court asked Brnovich and Tucson’s lawyers to say if it should first consider the law’s constitutionality.
Tucson says the 2016 law isn’t unconstitutional. If Tucson loses, it must rescind the gun destruction law or lose millions in state shared revenue.
Tucson also says a 2013 state law requiring seized guns be sold doesn’t apply to it as a charter city. Brnovich said the law may apply and is asking the high court to decide.
3 a.m.
The Arizona Supreme Court is set to consider a case marking the first use of a new state law that withholds state funds from cities if they enact laws conflicting with state laws.
The high court is being asked by Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich to find that Tucson is illegally destroying seized guns instead of selling them. A lawmaker complained that conflicts with a 2013 law requiring guns be sold.
Rep. Mark Finchem complained to Brnovich, who reviewed the case and determined the Tucson ordinance may violate state law. Under a law passed last year, he’s asking the Supreme Court to decide.
Tucson says it can destroy guns it owns and that the 2016 law unconstitutionally infringes on local rights. The court considers whether to take the case Tuesday.
Copyright 2017 The Associated Press.
