WASHINGTON, D.C. — Arizona’s Gov. Katie Hobbs sided with “woke” Wall Street corporations over Grand Canyon State businesses and protecting the free exercise of rights when she vetoed Senate Bill 1096, the bipartisan Firearm Industry Nondiscrimination (FIND) Act.
The FIND legislation would have ensured firearm-related businesses have fair access to financial services and corporate entities wouldn’t benefit from taxpayer-funded contracts while using those profits to discriminate against constitutionally-protected firearm businesses. The legislation would have made corporations ineligible for state or municipal contracts if they hold discriminatory policies against firearm businesses. The legislation was strongly supported by NSSF – The Firearm Industry Trade Association.
In essence, the legislation would have enabled Arizona to choose to do business with those companies that do not discriminate based on an industry they may not like or with which they disagree. The legislation was passed by the state Senate 16-13 and by the state’s House of Representatives 31-29.
“Governor Hobbs chose to allow Arizona businesses to be subjected to out-of-state discriminatory policies that put special interests over business success,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “This shows state residents that their governor’s loyalties are with Wall Street’s ‘woke’ agenda and not with protecting homegrown businesses or protecting the Second Amendment rights of Arizona’s citizens.”
Gov. Hobbs issued a statement claiming the legislation was “unnecessary” and urged “the legislature to focus on providing real solutions to the real challenges faced by our state.” It is the firearm industry that executes a campaign called Real Solutions. Safer Communities.® that works to ensure firearms remain beyond the reach of those who cannot be trusted to possess them.
That dismissive statement ignores the reality that Arizona businesses are being targeted by corporate entities discriminating against Arizona businesses based on politics. The veto came on the same day Gov. Hobbs’ spokesperson, Josselyn Berry, posted an image on Twitter showing a woman holding handguns, adding “Us when we see transphobes.” The post was made following the tragedy in Nashville and has since been removed from Twitter for violating Twitter’s rules, but Gov. Hobbs has refused calls to fire Ms. Berry.
This veto, coupled with the vile and violent threats, exposes the animus the Hobbs administration holds for the firearm industry and Arizonans’ Constitutional right to keep and bear arms to protect themselves against violence. NSSF condemns the use or threat of violence by anyone against innocent lives.
