Arizona lawmakers challenge Phoenix City Council’s donation of firearms to Ukraine.
Unclaimed Firearms Donated to Ukraine Amid Controversy
Approximately 600 unclaimed firearms are reportedly on their way to Ukraine after members of the Phoenix City Council in Arizona approved donating these weapons through an independent broker.
In a text to The Epoch Times, House Judiciary Chairman Quang Nguyen, a Republican, said on Sept. 9, he “confirmed” that Phoenix had shipped “all the firearms” to Ukraine but would not elaborate.
On Aug. 21, Rep. Nguyen and House Judiciary vice-chairwoman Rep. Selina Bliss (R) filed an SB1487 complaint with the Arizona Attorney General requesting an investigation into the legality of the June 28 city council ordinance authorizing the donation.
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On Aug. 4, the city manager signed a contract with broker DT Gruelle to receive and ship 599 unclaimed firearms as a donation to Ukraine’s national police under the terms of the agreement. The agreement listed the Phoenix Police Department’s Property Management Bureau as the “donation point” for unclaimed firearms.
Rep. Nguyễn said the cache had an estimated $300,000 to $350,000 in street value and included AR-15s, AK47s, and other military-grade semi-automatic weapons seized by police or turned over by residents.
A list of the firearms obtained by The Epoch Times included 9mm pistols made by Smith & Wesson, Beretta, Glock, and other top-brand manufacturers.
Also on the list were shotguns and various carbine rifles using military-grade ammunition.
On Aug. 3, Reps. Nguyen and Bliss sent a letter to council members objecting to the city ordinance, saying it violated state law prohibiting the donation of unclaimed firearms.
Two weeks later, the city responded, confirming it would move forward with the donation to Gruelle under the signed agreement.
The company was responsible for weapons delivery to Ukraine, duties, and transportation costs.
“Tellingly, the city made no effort to address any of the state laws identified in our letter or the Arizona Supreme Court’s decision in city of Tucson,” Reps. Nguyen and Bliss wrote.
In August 2017, Arizona’s high court ruled Tucson had to stop destroying thousands of unclaimed firearms confiscated and to sell them instead to licensed firearms dealers.
Arizona is a constitutional carry state, meaning a law-abiding citizen without a felony record has the legal right to carry a firearm either concealed or in the open.
Phoenix city officials claim the donation of unclaimed firearms is similar to former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey’s contribution of humanitarian equipment to Ukraine in 2022, an argument Rep. Nguyen and Bliss refute.
“The city’s willful ignorance of state law is not only troubling; it places the city in a precarious position should this issue be litigated,” they wrote.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has 30 days to respond to the Aug. 21 request for an investigation under SB1487.
“Yes, our office will fulfill its statutory obligations related to this 1487 complaint. No conclusions have yet been made,” said Communications Director Richie Taylor in an email to The Epoch Times.
In the meantime, Rep. Nguyen said the donation of firearms essentially takes money out of the city’s general fund for public use.
“When [the firearms] go off to the Ukraine, you have no idea who will get ahold of them. It’s Fast and Furious Number 17. We should not be doing this at all. There is no reason.”
Rep. Nguyen stressed that his objecting to the ordinance and weapons transfer was “not about the politics of the war.”
“This city ignores state law to do the feel-good things t
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