Arizona lawmakers Thursday moved to loosen restrictions on the state’s guns laws in the wake of the recent mass shooting in Tucson, the Arizona Daily Star reported Friday.
The new law would permit weapons in most public buildings, and allow gun owners to ignore “no weapons” signs posted on most buildings. The exception to that provision would be if visitors have to go through metal detectors or be screened by security with hand-held wands.
The state legislature is also considering a separate bill to loosen the restrictions for carrying concealed weapons on college campuses.
Senate President
Russell Pearce, a Republican from Mesa, said the measures recognize that people have the right to defend themselves.
The move to loosen gun restrictions in the state comes less than two months after the Tucson shooting which saw six people killed and 14 injured, including U.S. Rep. Gabriel Giffords. Giffords is recovering from her injuries at a Houston rehabilitation facility.
The only Senators who spoke out against the measures were Democrats.
© 2013 Newsmax. All rights reserved.