PHOENIX, Ariz.—Phoenix City Council members rescinded on Sept. 26 an ordinance donating hundreds of firearms to national police in Ukraine to help reduce gun violence in Phoenix.
“I continue to be extremely, extremely disappointed that current state law prevents us from making our own decision,” council vice-chairwoman Yassamin Ansari said before the council voted 8-0 to repeal the June 28 ordinance.
“Gun violence is the leading cause of death among children in the United States. I’m sickened by this reality and frustrated that we are prohibited and unable to do anything substantial to reduce gun violence.”
Illegal Ordinance
On Aug. 21, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Quang Nguyen and vice-chairman Selina Bliss, both Republicans, filed a complaint with the state attorney general’s office claiming the ordinance was illegal and required an investigation.In a joint letter to the attorney general, both legislators said it was “frustrating” that Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, a Democrat, “willfully disregarded state law and rushed the transfer of these firearms abroad.”
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes explained in a 12-page written decision on Sept. 20 that the council’s vote creating the ordinance violated state law governing the disposal of unclaimed firearms.
Ms. Mayes, a Democrat, said her decision was not a public rebuke of the spirit of the ordinance or “an endorsement of the policy underlying Arizona’s firearms disposition statutes.”
“Nor should it discourage future support and donations to Ukraine or elsewhere that can be carried out in compliance with Arizona law,” Ms. Mayes wrote.
The law allows Arizona municipalities to resell unclaimed firearms to licensed dealers after 30 days.
“Reselling guns does not keep us safe,” Ms. Ansari said, while another council member said, “Guns provoke violence, and we’ve got to find a way to deal with it.”
In passing the ordinance, the council agreed to dispose of the firearms through a signed contract with freight forwarder and U.S. customs broker D.T. Gruelle in Pennsylvania.
The estimated resale value of the firearms was up to $350,000.
Weapons Shipped
Mr. Nguyen told The Epoch Times he confirmed through city officials the cache shipped recently. However, whether the shipment has left the country has yet to be determined.The state legislator said it was ironic that council members were concerned about city gun violence but potentially contributing to violence in war-torn Ukraine.
“Let’s get the guns to kill other people around the world, right? You have no idea who you’re giving it to,” Mr. Nguyen said.
“If you don’t like the law, get a legislator to change it. You don’t have to break the law because you don’t like it.”
Mr. Nguyen said a legislative attorney will help to determine if the state law violation warrants further action against the mayor and council members.
He said the plan is to retrieve the weapons and return them to Phoenix for resale if they haven’t already left the country.
Proceeds from the sale would go into the state general fund.
