PHOENIX — A 17-year-old who was seriously hurt after being assaulted by a person wearing brass knuckles told Arizona lawmakers Thursday about the injuries he suffered in an effort to get the weapon banned.
Connor Jarnagan previously wrote letters to East Valley lawmakers, asking them to support a brass knuckles ban in this legislative session. Jarnagan had to have his scalp stapled back together when he was assaulted with the weapon in December of 2022.
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"I'm hoping both sides of the aisle, Republicans and Democrats alike, can come together on this issue and help make Arizona a safer place without providing teens and other criminals easy access to a deadly weapon like brass knuckles. Unlike guns, which can be used for hunting, brass knuckles have no redeeming purpose other than to hurt people," Jarnagan wrote.
Arizona State John Senator Kavanagh then announced he would amend SB 1183 to include a brass knuckles ban. A hearing was held Thursday to discuss the bill.
"I ended up having to get staples in my head and doctors told me that if the injury had just been an inch to the left, I could've been paralyzed or killed," Jarnagan told lawmakers.
Kavanagh said the weapon is only used by mobsters and criminals and should be banned outright.
"I believe the majority of states call these deadly weapons and they ban mere possession because they have no useful self-defense function," Kavanagh said during the hearing.
But State Senator Anthony Kern made the case to only ban brass knuckles for minors.
"If we're gonna allow 18-year-olds in the military with all the weaponry that the military has, why would we not allow them to carry brass knuckles?" Kern said.
Ultimately, the bill received unanimous support, with Kern and State Senator Justine Wadsack warning of future no-votes if the bill isn't changed.
"If somebody is going to kill someone, they're going to use a stick, they're going to use a hammer, they're going to use other tools; we can't ban everything just because it can cause somebody death," Wadsack said.
Jarnagan is happy that the bill is moving forward and while he supports a full ban, he said he understands there may need to be some compromises to get the bill through.
"I'm glad we can start the process of getting this bill moved and I am super excited for what's to come," Jarnagan said. He has worked with town leaders to create a petition to show support for the ban. You can sign the petition here.
12News reached out to Gilbert Police Chief Michael Soelberg who said he supports the legislation as it stands.