Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, citing a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision and severe financial impact, has vetoed a bill that would have allowed concealed weapons in public facilities that have no security measures in place.
Brewer said in a
veto statement issued Tuesday that “emotions can run high” in public buildings such as courthouses, city council chambers, and state agencies. The Republican said a compromise on concealed carry in such places should be “reached and supported by a broad coalition of stakeholders, including citizens, law enforcement officials, and local government leaders.”
In her statement, Brewer cited Associate Justice Antonin Scalia’s majority opinion in the landmark 2008 District of Columbia v. Heller case, which upheld the right to bear arms. But she noted the legitimacy of state and local laws forbidding firearms in schools and government buildings.
Moreover, Brewer said, she was concerned about the financial impact the proposed law would have on public facilities that wanted to continue banning firearms.
“They would have to spend untold dollars” to install metal detectors, X-ray machines, and provide armed security and lockers to secure citizens’ firearms before they entered the building.
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