Coconino News

Arizona Rep. Austin Smith has criticized a statement released by Arizona House Democrats, who expressed support for gun safety reforms following a recent mass shooting in Maine. Smith, a Republican, dismissed the Democrats' call for reforms, stating, "You're not getting our firearms. Minor reform with Democrats is an oxymoron. It's ban everything OR make it so hard to own one that nobody can. We've seen this before. Crocodile tears."

"Our caucus is once again ready to pass common-sense gun safety reforms, ideas backed by vast majorities of the American public who are sick of the bloodshed," said the Arizona House Democrats' statement, according to a House Democrats press release. "But our Republican colleagues with their thin majority must also find the courage to stand up to the powerful gun lobby that encourages and facilitates this violence when they demonize and mischaracterize even minor efforts at reform."

The mass shooting in Maine, which prompted the Democrats' statement, was the 36th mass killing in the United States this year. The incident occurred when a U.S. Army reservist, Robert Card, fatally shot 18 individuals and injured over a dozen others at a bowling alley and a bar in Lewiston. Card, a firearms instructor, went missing after the shooting and was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound two days later in Lisbon Falls. The firearms used in the shooting had been legally purchased.

It has been revealed that Card had been struggling with mental health issues for several months leading up to the shooting. Last summer, both the Army Reserve's 3rd Battalion, 304th Infantry Regiment, and Card's family expressed concerns about his mental well-being. He had undergone a mental health evaluation after accusing fellow soldiers of labeling him a pedophile and was admitted to a mental health facility for two weeks. On September 15, a sheriff's deputy was dispatched to Card's home for a wellness check due to concerns over his access to firearms and his reported experience of hearing voices, which raised mounting concerns about his mental state.

The tragic incident in Maine has reignited the debate on gun safety reforms in the United States. While Democrats are pushing for stricter regulations, Republicans like Rep. Austin Smith are resistant to any form of gun control. The divide between the two parties on this issue continues to be a contentious one, with no immediate resolution in sight.