GUNS AND ABORTION: Arizona's Congressional Delegation Commemorates Different Dates With Very Different Legislation

Arizona's Members of Congress are marking two dates on the January calendar with very different pieces of legislation. One sings the praises of a (private) consortium of clinics opposed to abortions and the other would impose background checks on all gun purchasers.

Arizona's five Democratic Representatives all announced* today that they are co-sponsoring the background check bill on the anniversary of the mass shooting in Tucson that claimed the lives of 6 and wounded 19, including Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. The text of HR8 is published below.

Meanwhile, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-CD5) has sponsored a resolution in advance of this month's commemoration of the U.S. Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade. Biggs is asking that the House of Representatives praise a new consortium of medical clinics that is being described as "sort of like a Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval for the pro-life medical community." The Pro Women’s Healthcare Centers certifies centers that meet their high, life-affirming standards. (Clinics in Gilbert and Tempe are among the nine centers across the U.S. listed.) Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-CD8) is among the three co-sponsors. The text of H.Res.16 is published below.

Biggs has sponsored 23 bills this past week. No other member of Arizona's House delegation is currently listed as a primary sponsor of a bill in this new Congress.

   HR8 - Background Checks by arizonaspolitics on Scribd

*Arizona's Politics has not yet found any statements from Arizona's four Republican lawmakers about the bill, although Rep. David Schweikert (R-CD6) did announce that the entire delegation would be commemorating the shooting with a moment of silence on the House floor.

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