By Howard Fischer | Capitol Media Services via Arizona Capitol Times
With two mass shootings fresh on people’s minds the top state House Democrat wants a special session to debate — and presumably enact — a series of gun control measures.
Related: Lawmakers: Ducey silent on pushing gun control measure
Minority Leader Charlene Fernandez, D-Yuma, is pulling out all of the proposals that the Republican-controlled Legislature refused to debate, much less consider, in the past five years. These range from universal background checks and bans on military-style rifles to limits on high-capacity magazines and making it a crime for adults to leave weapons where children can get them.
She told Capitol Media Services that the mass shootings this past weekend in El Paso and Dayton may finally provide enough impetus for lawmakers to consider these measures.
But the idea of calling all 90 lawmakers back to the Capitol in the wake of the incidents is not picking up any immediate support of Republican legislative leaders.
In fact House Majority Leader Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, lashed out at Fernandez for even bringing up the subject.
“I find it disturbing that she will use a tragedy for political purposes,” he said.
Reaction from other Republicans was more measured.
