PHOENIX (AP) - The Arizona Senate has approved a bill that would speed up the certification process for high-caliber firearms for private citizens.
The Senate approved House Bill 2535 by Rep. John Kavanagh of Fountain Hills with an 18-10 vote Tuesday.
Weapons like machine guns require approval by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, but local law enforcement must first conduct a background check before an applicant requests ATF approval.
Under the bill, officers would be required to certify or deny a weapon within 60 days. Kavanagh says some agencies take too long or don’t process the application at all. His original bill called for a 15-day deadline for applications at the local level, but an amendment extended that.
The bill will go back to the House for final approval.
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