While the country debates tougher gun-safety laws in the wake of a Florida high school massacre, Arizona's elected officials are moving in the opposite direction, a state Capitol reporter tells me on this weekend's "Sunday Square Off."
Dustin Gardiner, of the Arizona Republic, describes a confrontation during last week's House session that epitomizes the split: Republican leadership rejected Democrats' largely symbolic push for a debate on banning bump stocks, an accessory that enables a semiautomatic rifle to fire faster. At roughly the same time President Donald Trump was announcing a plan to ban bump stocks.
Also on "Sunday Square Off":
-We hear why some schools and parents question the value of placing a police officer - known as a school resource officer - on Arizona school campuses.
Channel Powe, a member of the Balsz School District Governing Board, explains why her district doesn't want an SRO in its schools.
-In our Left/Right debate, Christine Jones, former Republican candidate for governor, and political analyst Chris Herstam discuss the controversies engulfing the front-runners in Tuesday's Republican primary to fill disgraced Congressman Trent Franks' vacant seat in the West Valley's 8th District.
Steve Montenegro of Goodyear has been dogged by a sexting scandal in the final days of the campaign.
Debbie Lesko of Peoria has been accused of illegally transferring money from her state campaign account to a federal account.
Polls indicate that Lesko and Montenegro, both former state legislators, lead the pack of 12 GOP primary candidates.
Dr. Hiral Tipirneni and Brianna Westbrook are running in the Democratic primary.
Jones and Herstam also debate whether the anti-Trump message that House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi delivered last week in Phoenix is a winner for Democrats.
"Sunday Square Off" airs at 8 a.m. Sundays on 12 News, after "Meet the Press."
While the country debates tougher gun-safety laws in the wake of a Florida high school massacre, Arizona's elected officials are discussing looser controls on weapons.
A Phoenix school board member explains why some schools and parents question the value of a police officer on campus.
In our Left/Right debate, we discuss whether a sexting scandal makes Republican Steve Montenegro unfit for Congress. Montenegro's running for the seat left vacant by disgraced Congressman Trent Franks, his former boss.
In our Left/Right debate, we hear why Debbie Lesko could be hurt by the mere appearance of potentially illegal money moves in the Congressional District 8 race. Also, is Nancy Pelosi's new message good for Democrats?
