On February 20th, 2018 Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone made a deeply troubling, offensive and false statement in an interview on KTAR, FM 92.3, stating that there is “no practical use for an AR-15.”
It is clear that Sheriff Penzone is ill informed on the issue.
Just 3 days before Penzone’s insulting comments, the largest 3-position precision Rifle Match in Arizona was held by the Arizona State Rifle and Pistol Association at Ben Avery Range. Most of the competitors used AR-15’s. The national matches, held at Camp Perry, Ohio, almost exclusively feature highly tuned AR-15 rifles for competition.
AR-15 rifles are made by dozens of licensed manufacturers in Arizona, and hundreds nationally, who are engaged in lawful commerce in arms. The AR-15 pattern of rifles is available in a number of calibers and configurations. They are the choice of hunters, competitors, sportsmen, and defenders of life and property throughout the country. Arizona removed the magazine capacity limits on them for hunting several years ago.
Sheriff Penzone said that, “AR-15s are not…. self-defense tools.”
Is he unaware that the AR-15 is considered the standard “patrol rifle” for police in the U.S.? Many police departments authorize their officers to carry their privately owned AR-15 on duty with them. There is hardly a better rifle than the AR-15 for self-defense.
Sheriff Penzone is under oath to protect and defend the U.S. and Arizona Constitutions. Article 2, Section 26 of the Arizona Constitution states that, “The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself or the state shall not be impaired…” Nowhere is there a limitation on the type of gun with which they can do that.
Statements such as he made February 20th appear to indicate Mr. Penzone’s desire to act against his oath, and should be looked at with a view towards impeachment by the legislature.
Charles Heller
AzCDL
