Kudos to ThinkProgress for capturing this:
Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ), who was appointed to the late John McCain’s seat weeks after losing in the general election for the state’s other senate seat last November, suggested on Wednesday that the solution to curbing mass shootings should be found at the state or even local level. This comes after the NRA-funded Republican backed a federal law to overrule state’s concealed weapon licensing laws.
McSally appeared at district events in Bullhead City, Arizona, where she was reportedly asked by a constituent about what can be done to stop mass shootings. McSally answered that solutions must come not just from the federal government, but from state and even local lawmakers.
“I believe in states’ rights,” she said. “Most problems can be solved at the state and local level.”
McSally’s record on guns has been to oppose virtually every new gun control measure. She has earned an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association and has bragged about receiving their endorsements. She was one of the nation’s largest 2018 recipients of campaign contributions from gun-rights organizations, with more than $200,000 in gun money.
But now she’s trying to sing another tune:
U.S. Sen. Martha McSally of Arizona says she could potentially support gun reform legislation, as long as it does not violate constitutional rights.
The Republican lawmaker told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning Newson Friday that she led legislation to strengthen the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, which is used to prevent people convicted of certain crimes from getting guns.
“Sometimes federal agencies and localities are not putting that information in the system, and some of these awful tragedies that have happened have been because of those flaws,” she said.
However, McSally said she is not necessarily supportive of expanding background check legislation to cover private gun sales.
By the way, this is interesting:
Federal appeals-court judges have agreed to decide whether Sen. Martha McSally can continue to serve until the 2020 election without having been elected to her seat by voters.
In December 2018, McSally, R-Ariz., was appointed by Gov. Doug Ducey to fill the Senate seat vacated by the Aug. 25, 2018, death of veteran Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
Now, McSally and Ducey are defendants in a lawsuit filed by a small group of Arizona voters from across the political spectrum that claims it’s unconstitutional for McSally to serve as senator for 27 months without being elected.
The plaintiffs, two Democrats, one Republican, one Independent and one Libertarian, are being represented by attorney Michael Kielsky, a former chairman of the Arizona Libertarian Party.
Ducey and McSally’s legal team has argued that there’s no need to rush the issue as several months remain until voters cast ballots in November 2020, giving the court time to decide on the issue, but 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judges decided recently that the case should be expedited.
In a short order filed on Aug. 1, appellate judges announced the case will be heard in November, opening the possibility of a special election for McSally’s seat before 2020.
James Gardner, a University at Buffalo law professor who studies election and constitutional law, said that while it is unusual for appellate judges to expedite cases, it is more common for cases to be expedited in courts at every level if the case is in the electoral domain, where time is usually of the essence.
Kielsky, attorney for the plaintiffs, told The Arizona Republic that while he's glad the court is expediting the case, he doesn't consider November to be soon enough.
To make up for lost time, Kielsky is hoping that the court issues a preliminary ruling within days of oral arguments.
"They will already have the briefs, they will already understand most of the arguments," Kielsky said. "It would be unusual, but they certainly could do that. Especially if they are inclined to rule in our favor, we would urge them to do that immediately so that the state can immediately proceed to hold that special election."
Whatever happens, we have to be ready to defeat McSally again. Click here to donate and get involved with Mark Kelly’s (D. AZ) campaign.