In a significant legislative move, the Arizona Senate Judiciary Committee has unanimously approved a bill that aims to outlaw brass knuckles within the state. This decision, reported by sources such as KJZZ and 12News, comes in the wake of increasing concerns over the use of brass knuckles in violent assaults, particularly those targeting teenagers.
The Case That Sparked Change
The push for legislative action was significantly influenced by the harrowing experience of Connor Jarnagan, a 17-year-old from Gilbert, Arizona. Jarnagan suffered serious injuries after being attacked with brass knuckles in 2022, an assault that necessitated the use of staples to close a wound on his head. This incident was not isolated; Gilbert police acknowledged multiple incidents involving brass knuckles at the same location within a month.
Legislative Response
Arizona State Senator John Kavanaugh, a Republican from Fountain Hills, has been a leading advocate for the bill, motivated by the need to address what he sees as a gap in the state’s legal framework regarding weapons. Kavanaugh highlighted the severity of Jarnagan’s injuries and expressed surprise that brass knuckles were not already illegal in Arizona.