Snake shot bill dies in a tie in Senate

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A letter from a Tucson retiree who used to be a California investigator proved instrumental in killing legislation that would have allowed people to fire off small-caliber “snake shot” in city limits.

HB 2022 failed on a tie vote Monday after Rep. Kate Brophy McGee, R-Phoenix, read the letter from Michael Cardwell who spoke of his 32 years working for the San Bernadino County Sheriff’s Department and patrolling the 23,000 square miles, much of that in the Mohave Desert. He detailed — and she read for colleagues — the foolishness of people who feel the need to shoot at snakes, particularly rattlesnakes.

But it wasn’t just that Cardwell said the best course of action is to leave the snakes alone.

“The bottom line when it comes to destroying small animals like rattlesnakes is that gunfire presents a much greater danger to bystanders than the snake itself,” Brophy McGee read. “Projectiles fired into the ground at low angles, even shotgun pellets and snake shot, very frequently ricochet and put holes in buildings, cars and people.”

Brophy McGee said she’s not sure that the letter made the difference in denying Rep. Jay Lawrence, R-Scottsdale, the necessary 16 votes needed for Senate approval. Lawrence already had shepherded the bill through the House on a 35-25 margin on claims of Second Amendment rights of Arizonans to arm themselves with whatever ammunition they believe is appropriate.

But Brophy McGee said it probably helped cement the opposition as she and Republican Sen. Bob Worsley of Mesa joined with the 13 Democrats to kill it.

Read more at AZ Capitol Times

Corrie O'Connor