Arizona

GOP senators want to arm Arizona college students … with guns

Published

2 years ago

February 12, 2024

GOP senators want to arm Arizona college students … with guns

Opinion: Of all the bad ideas swirling around the Arizona Legislature, surely the bill to allow guns on college campuses is among the worst. College students should be packing books, not pistols.

It’s an annual rite of passage at the state Capitol: What can we do this year to get guns into __________ (fill in the blank)?

This year’s arming-Arizona bill is brought, as it has been so many times before, by Sen. Wendy Rogers, R-Flagstaff, or possibly Tempe or more likely Chandler.

This (supposedly) northern Arizona Republican is urging the GOP-run Legislature to pass a bill that would allow college students to bring their guns onto campus, provided they’re 21, have passed a background check and undergone two whole hours of firearms training.

That’s not two hours a quarter or even two hours a year, by the way. It’s two hours, period. And you don’t even have to demonstrate that you know how to shoot a gun.

“If you have a concealed carry permit you should be able to carry on campus to defend yourself,” Rogers told the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday.

NAU shooting proves what can go wrong

I mean, what could go wrong?

I’d ask Steven Jones but he is unavoidably detained in a prison cell in Safford.

Jones was a student at Northern Arizona University in the fall of 2015, when an early morning fight broke out at a fraternity party and spilled onto campus. Accounts differ, as they always do, but Jones would later tell police he was being chased by a group of drunken, angry students from a rival fraternity. Fearing for his life, he ran to his car, which was parked just outside his dorm, and grabbed his gun.

Jones’ first burst of shots hit Colin Brough and another student. He then fired again, wounding two others, after a group of students tackled him.

The students told police they were trying to stop Jones from shooting anyone else. Jones said he believed they were trying to get his gun so they could shoot him.

When it was over, Brough was dead, three other students were wounded and Jones was a convicted felon, wishing he could trade his life for the one he took.

It marked the first time a shooting had ever happened on the Flagstaff campus.

Concealed carry doesn’t belong on campus

Senate Bill 1198 would allow anyone with a concealed weapons permit to pack heat on a public college or university campus in Arizona.

Naturally, the bill is opposed by college and university police departments, knowing as they do that 20-somethings are prone to all manner of stressful situations in which a gun is the absolute last thing they need.

Republican senators, however, scoffed at that, saying students need to be able to protect themselves from rapists and mass murderers and such.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Anthony Kern was particularly excited about the bill, announcing to those present that he was packing his pistol and ready for action.

“I’m carrying right now and I can tell you if somebody came in here shooting, they would be my first target,” the Glendale Republican said.

Perhaps Kern really is that good.

Perhaps that two hours of training required to get a concealed weapons permit included at least a few minutes on how to safely shoot in that stress-packed, adrenaline-pumping moment when a bad guy bursts in to Kern’s hearing room.

Even police officers can make mistakes

Me? I’d be more inclined to put my money on his fellow Judiciary colleague, Sen. Justine Wadsack, R-Tucson. I’ve seen her strike a pose outside the Capitol with her assault-style weapon — in high heels, no less — so I’d be feeling pretty good about my chances with her in the room.

But I digress.

Police officers train regularly for that high stress moment when duty calls. Even then, they make mistakes.

“The assumption that somebody can take (a class), particularly a civilian, and be a competent shooter in a combat situation is misplaced,” Mike Bielecki, representing the Maricopa County Community College Faculty Association, told the committee.

Last year: Prescott lawmakers jump to save Phoenix’s guns

But Kern wasn’t having it, noting that college campuses are violent places and that laws are lax.

“If you shoot up 30 people you’re out in two years,” he said. “You see it every day in our media. Assaults on police officers from illegals from across the border, so absolutely, 100%, I think everybody in this room should be carrying. An armed society is a safe society.”

And a Senate Judiciary Committee armed with intellect is …. non-existent, it seems.

Gov. Hobbs will veto the bill, at least

I don’t know of anyone who was set free after shooting up 30 people, as Kern claims, and I don’t see how telling college kids to bring their Glocks to class protects police officers. Or really, anyone.

But here’s what I do know. This bill will be vetoed by Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, just as it was last year.

Despite that, it passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on a 4-3 party line vote, with Rogers noting that gun-free zones send a message to the bad guys.

“Where is safest place in Arizona?” she asked. “A gun show.”

Yet I note that not even a sharpshooter like Kern could come packing to a gun show. Not legally, anyway.

Gun shows don’t allow loaded weapons.

Reach Roberts at laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter at @LaurieRoberts.

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Arizona

Trump issues rare dual endorsement in Arizona swing district

Published

1 hour ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Trump issues rare dual endorsement in Arizona swing district

The president praised both Jay Feely and Gina Swoboda as “Highly Respected America First Patriots.”
The president’s team had not publicly confirmed his endorsement of Swoboda before the Jan. 6 social media post.
The district, which includes wealthy pockets of Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, and north Phoenix, has a hot-and-cold relationship with the president.

President Donald Trump endorsed not one but two Republicans in a highly watched Arizona congressional primary, boosting a new candidate after his first pick met resistance from some in the GOP.

In a Jan. 6 social media post, Trump said he was backing Jay Feely, a former Cardinals kicker and sports commentator who recently switched his campaign into Arizona’s Scottsdale-area 1st Congressional District, in addition to Gina Swoboda, the state GOP chair whose candidacy has divided Republicans despite her securing Trump’s support in October.

The president praised both Feely and Swoboda as “Highly Respected America First Patriots.”

“JAY OR GINA WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!” he wrote on Truth Social, the social media platform he owns.

The announcement is a blow to Swoboda, a polarizing figure among Arizona Republicans. Her longtime rivalry with Turning Point, the network of conservative advocacy groups founded by the late activist Charlie Kirk, has shadowed her candidacy, prompting attacks and infighting among Arizona Republicans.

The president’s team had not publicly confirmed his endorsement of Swoboda before the Jan. 6 social media post.

In an interview with The Arizona Republic, Feely said he thought the endorsement came back to his “friendship” and shared values with the president.

“I love what he’s doing. I believe in what he’s doing. I’m committed to the same principles that he and his administration have,” Feely said.

“We wish Gilbert resident Jay Feely well in his latest campaign for Congress, but nothing has changed,” Swoboda campaign consultant Chris Baker shot back in a written statement to The Republic. “Gina Swoboda will be the Republican nominee in AZ01.”

The endorsement will also set back two other high-profile GOP candidates in the race, the ultra-conservative state Rep. Joseph Chaplik and businessman John Trobough, who both told The Republic they, too, had been in touch with the White House.

Though Trump’s endorsement will be a boon in the Republican primary, it could become a liability in the general election. The district, which includes wealthy pockets of Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, and north Phoenix, has a hot-and-cold relationship with the president.

National GOP leaders encouraged him to run in Scottsdale, Feely says

Feely initially launched his campaign in Arizona’s 5th Congressional District, which includes much of Chandler, Queen Creek and Gilbert, where he lives with his family. He billed himself as a home-grown candidate with a “heart to serve,” and a MAGA devotee who has a personal relationship with Trump.

His prospects in that district dimmed after the president endorsed one of his opponents, Mark Lamb, the well-known former sheriff of Pinal County. Early polling showed Lamb with a large advantage in the race.

But Trump took a liking to Feely, encouraging the former football player in a November social media post to “run in a different district, or for a different office.”

Feely followed the president’s advice. He switched his campaign into the Scottsdale district on Dec. 19. Trump’s endorsement followed about two weeks later.

In an interview Feely said national Republican leaders in D.C., and “grassroots leadership” in the Valley, encouraged him to pivot to the Scottsdale seat. He said he spoke several times with House Speaker Mike Johnson on the matter.

“I wanted to do what was best for the team,” he told The Arizona Republic.

“If they wanted me to run in CD1, and they felt like I was the best candidate, and the one that could hold that seat, then I was willing to do that.”

It’s rare but not unheard of for the president to endorse multiple candidates in a single race.

Last year Trump endorsed two congressional hopefuls in a West Valley-area Republican primary, including the eventual winner, U.S. Rep. Abe Hamadeh.

And in Missouri’s 2022 U.S. Senate race, Trump left election-watchers scratching their heads when he endorsed “Eric,” a first name shared by the race’s two front-runners. Both campaigns claimed the endorsement as their own.

For years the Scottsdale-area district has been considered one of the most competitive races in the country. Its incumbent, U.S. Rep. David Schweikert, announced last year he would not seek re-election in 2026, winding down his 15-year tenure on Capitol Hill and setting up a bitter contest for the rare open congressional seat.

Across the aisle, about half a dozen high-profile Democrats are fighting for their party’s nomination.

The candidates have already raised millions of dollars between them, with campaign spending only expected to escalate leading up to the Aug. 4, 2026 primaries. The Nov. 3, 2026, general election will bring millions more expensive television advertisements, mailers, and social media ads to the district, much of it financed by national Republican and Democratic groups wrestling for control over the U.S. House.

Feely has raised more than $1 million, about a third of which he has loaned himself, according to a report filed this fall. His personal financial disclosure shows he is worth at least $15 million, giving him a piggy bank that could help finance a campaign.

Swoboda has raised “quite a bit” of money, said campaign consultant Chris Baker, though her fundraising receipts aren’t yet public.

Rivals slam Feely’s out-of-district residence

Feely’s rivals have slammed him for running in a district where he doesn’t live.

“If Jay Feely wants to travel 50 minutes every day to run in Arizona’s 1st Ccongressional District, where he’s never lived, we will pay for his Uber,” Alfredo Rodriguez, a strategist with the Trobough campaign, wrote in a news release. “Tell him to send us the bill.”

“If Gilbert carpetbagger Jay Feely foolishly thinks he can win in AZ01, then more power to him I guess. But the outcome won’t change – Gina Swoboda will win the Republican primary,” Baker wrote in a statement to The Republic.

Feely said in an interview he has connections to the Scottsdale district, even though he doesn’t actually live there. The district is “about economics” and “represents the entrepreneurial spirit,” he said.

“I’ve invested in companies in this district. My friends and family live in this district. And I want to be an asset to all of them,” Feely said.

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Arizona

Arizona is still growing, but new migration data shows the trend may be shifting

Published

13 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Arizona is still growing, but new migration data shows the trend may be shifting

Arizona remains one of the fastest-growing states in the country, but new migration data suggests that growth is starting to level out.

According to the latest numbers from U-Haul, Arizona ranked number seven nationwide for growth in 2025. While that is down one spot from the year before, it marks the sixth consecutive year the state has remained in the top ten.

The rankings are based on more than 2.5 million one-way moving transactions for the Arizona-based company.

What stands out in the data is how close those numbers are.

In 2025, 50.3% of U-Haul’s one-way moves came into Arizona, while 49.7% moved out. In practical terms, that means for nearly every family moving into the state, there is another one packing up and leaving.

That does not mean Arizona is losing population. However, it does suggest the margin of growth is getting thinner than it has been in recent years.

Even with that shift, the greater Phoenix metro area continues to be a major driver of growth. Phoenix ranked fifth nationwide among U.S. metro areas, fueled by job creation and new housing across the Valley.

U-Haul leaders point to continued development tied to major employers, including chip manufacturing and data centers, as well as ongoing residential construction, as reasons Phoenix remains a top destination.

Experts who study migration trends say when in-migration and out-migration numbers get this close, it can be a sign that affordability pressures are starting to play a role, especially when it comes to housing.

The latest data does not point to a mass exodus, but it does show Arizona entering a period of transition, balancing opportunity and growth with affordability concerns.

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Arizona

Barrel Racers Claim Big Wins in First Weekend of Arizona Legacy Races

Published

1 day ago

January 5, 2026

Press Room

Barrel Racers Claim Big Wins in First Weekend of Arizona Legacy Races

The 2026 Arizona Legacy Races in Buckeye, Ariz., are ringing in a new year for futurity horses December 30 – January 6, at the Buckeye Equestrian & Events Center. Formerly known as the MVP Futurity and Greg Olson Futurity, these two races have been a staple in many professional trainers’ schedules for decades. This year, the two events boast $22,000 in added money.

Futurity

Linzie Lindsey and Fame Dancin Yola claimed the Round 1 win with a 17.577 for $1,959. Barbara Merrill rode TKW Eye Am Tess to the 2D win.

After finishing out of the 1D money in Round 1, Loralee Ward and Dark Honey ran the fastest time of the futurity with a 17.030 to claim the Round 2 win. The duo also earned the Futurity Reserve Championship for $1,652.

Lindsey and Fame Dancin Yola finished second in Round 2 with a 17.164, adding $1,603 to their futurity earnings and claiming the Futurity Championship for another $2,019.

Jenna Duhon and PMC AintSheBeautiful earned the Round 2 2D win. In the 2D Average, it was Estella Martin and Quanahs Kingdom claiming the win.

Derby

Round 1 of a very tough Derby went to Jana Bean and Feature This Goodbye with a 17.268. 2025 futurity standout Blissful Version and Lora Nichols finished second in Round 1 with a 17.282, won Round 2 with a 17.032, and claimed the Average win.

“Buddy” and Nichols were in contention for the highest money-earning futurity horse of the previous season, before the cancellation of the last two major events of the season due to EHV-1. By $7 million sire Winners Version, Buddy banked over $300,000 in his futurity year.

Big Paydays

Megan McLeod-Sprague and Jagger | Fernando Sam-Sin/@fsamsin

Megan McLeod-Sprague and Seis Corona (“Jagger”) were hot off the 2025 National Finals Rodeo. The duo won the Roohide Hot Rod with a 17.004 for $1,368. They also earned the Friday Open 1D win for $1,083.

With the first 16-second run of the weekend, Sherry Cervi and MP Meter My Fame won the Saturday Open 1D with a 16.969.

Rita Cheeney and HP Dash Ta Fairfax ran the only other sub-17-second run of the weekend, with a 16.996 that took the top spot in Sunday’s Open 1D.

Nichols and Buddy doubled down on their derby earnings, placing deep in the Open 1D both days, as well as the Roohide Hot Rod, and Big Time Boss.

Youth competitor Tabitha Dyal also had an outstanding weekend, earning Open 1D money Friday, Saturday, and Sunday aboard Slym Shady. She swept the Youth 1D on Slym Shady and earned Open 1D, Open 2D, and Youth 1D checks on Promise Me Fame Guys and Smooth Operraider. Dyal wrapped up her weekend with several checks in the Big Time Boss.