cuchulainn
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http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/local/3_27_03gun_shows.html
Gun advocate revives bill targeting city gun laws
JACQUES BILLEAUD
The Associated Press
March 27, 2003
PHOENIX - A legislator succeeded yesterday in resurrecting legislation aimed at preventing Tucson from restricting gun shows held on city property.
The proposal by Rep. Randy Graf would erase a court ruling that says cities can require background checks for people buying guns at shows using city-owned property or buildings.
It was defeated last week by the state Senate's Judiciary Committee, but the same panel approved it yesterday 6-3.
Graf, known as perhaps the Legislature's top gun-rights advocate, revived the proposal by using an unrelated gun bill as a vehicle for raising the gun show issue again.
That meant abandoning his bill to allow people to carry guns into restaurants that sell alcohol unless the business posts a sign prohibiting it, Graf said.
"I didn't necessarily want to sacrifice it, but the political reality says the restaurant bill was mostly likely never going to get signed by the governor," the Green Valley Republican said.
Graf said he's confident that his bill (HB2319) will win approval from the full Senate.
Gov. Janet Napolitano's office didn't immediately respond to a question about whether the governor would veto Graf's bill.
The Legislature passed a law in 2000 generally leaving gun issues up to the state and pre-empting local governments on the issue.
A gun show promoter challenged a Tucson policy requiring background checks for sales at events on city property.
The Arizona Court of Appeals had ruled cities could regulate private sales on their own property.
But the Tucson City Council rescinded its policy in December.
Opponents of Graf's bill said the decision on whether to restrict gun shows should rest with cities.
"It kind of concerns me, though, that we are taking away the ability from these cities to really control the property that they have been given to control," said Sen. Bill Brotherton, a Phoenix Democrat and opponent of the bill.
Graf said he was able to revive his idea by explaining to lawmakers on the committee that it would be unfair for Tucson to regulate gun shows.