The trouble with E.Orr: he misleads on supporting ‘background checks’ for gun sales

While we are on the subject of the mythical moderate Republican Ethan Orr aka “E.Orr,” here is another tweet from Joe Ferguson of the Arizona Daily Star from last night’s LD 9 House debate:

Oh, really? The Arizona Citizens Defense League, a “gun rights” lobbyist organization, endorses E.Orr. It gave him a 100% rating in 2013, and it gives him a 100% rating again in 2014. As a first-time candidate for office in 2012, the NRA gave E.Orr a 92% rating. See Project Vote Smart’s page on Orr listing his endorsements and ratings.

In 2013 when Tucson City Councilman Steve Kozachik proposed person-to-person background checks for private gun sales in Tucson, the Arizona Citizens Defense League strenuously objected.  It’s  local point man was E.Orr. Tucson lawmakers split on Kozachik background checks:

Tucson area legislators are split on the support for Tucson City Council Member Steve Kozachik’s plan to require background checks for person-to-person gun sales.

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[Ethan] Orr told the [Capitol Times] Yellow Sheet that he doesn’t think Kozachik should be weighing in on gun control in his capacity as a councilman. Orr said that gun policy is beyond a city council’s scope, reported the Yellow Sheet.

Orr compared the “city council taking up gun regulations to the Legislature wading into foreign affairs,” and told the Yellow Sheet that if each city or county adopted their own regulations on gun possession, it could put gun owners in violation of state law, depending on where they travel in the state.

Orr called the proposal for person-to-person background checks a “slippery slope’ and said limiting “person-to-person gun sales won’t make people safer.”

When E.Orr objects that he is not against background checks, what he is really saying is that he is not opposed to the current federal background check law that only regulates gun sales by licensed firearms dealers.

E.Orr does oppose state regulation of private sales (the “gun show loophole” and person-to-person sales, and Online sales). Private sales are the jurisdiction of the states to regulate, and E.Orr has not supported any restrictive gun measure during his time in the Legislature (hence his 100% rating from the Arizona Citizens Defense League).

E.Orr’s opponent Dr. Randall Friese has put together a summary of the gun bills for which E.Orr voted in favor. Firearms – Dr. Randall Friese For State House LD-9:

FIREARMS BILLS SUPPORTED BY ETHAN ORR (Voted YES)

HB2326:  Prohibits local governments from enacting ordinances on firearms more restrictive than state law and also prohibits identifying information of firearm owners from being maintained. (NRA supported bill.) [Aimed at the City of Tucson and Councilman Steve Kozachik]

HB 2455:  Prevents local law enforcement from destroying weapons voluntarily given up by their owners during events, such as gun-buy-back efforts. (NRA supported bill.) [Aimed at the City of Tucson and Councilman Steve Kozachik]

HB2517:   This bill went after local government official or political subdivision that knowingly or willfully violates state statutes regarding firearms regulations with a civil penalty of up to $5,000. The bill prevents local government officials from evoking a legal defense that they were acting out of “good faith” or “on the advice of counsel” and they cannot use public monies to defend or reimburse such government officials. Last, individuals or organizations that bring a successful suit against such firearm ordinances can be awarded up to $100,000 in legal fees. [Purpose is to preclude any legislative action by the Tucson City Council]

HB2339:   Allows someone with a concealed carry license to bring a firearm into any public establishment or public event unless security personnel, metal detectors, and safe weapon storage are readily present. Even if that public event is taking place on private land and the owner(s) of that property does not wish to have firearms present, under this bill those wishes are ignored. (NRA supported bill.) [The “guns everywhere” bill]

HB2535:*   Mandates that a chief law enforcement officer required by federal law to certify the build or transfer of a weapon requiring ATF certification has 60 days to either certify or deny the certification if the applicant is not a prohibited possessor. Weapons built or transferred that need ATF certification include machine guns, silencers, short-barreled rifles and shotguns, bazookas, mortars, and anti-tank guns. (NRA supported bill.)

HB 2103:  Concealed weapons permit qualifications

HB 2483:  Prohibits a city, town or county from enacting an ordinance that would prevent, restrict or otherwise regulate the lawful discharge of a firearm or air gun or use of archery equipment on a private lot or parcel of land that is not open to the public on a commercial or membership basis.