Arizona House bill hits banks that refuse gun firm business

An Arizona bill that would prohibit government agencies from contracting with firms that refuse to do business with firearms companies is getting strong support from majority Republicans but tough criticism from the banking industry

PHOENIX -- An Arizona bill to prohibit government agencies from contracting with firms that refuse to do business with firearms companies received strong support this week from majority Republicans on a state House committee but generated tough criticism from the banking industry.

The proposal from GOP Rep. Frank Carroll would require companies doing business with the state or local governments to certify they won’t refuse to work with firearms-related companies.

Carroll and other GOP supporters said some banks are refusing to do business with firms involved with the firearms industry. They framed it as an issue of preventing people from exercising their Second Amendment rights.

“Why would you not want to do business with a Second Amendment-related business?” Republican Rep. Quang Nguyen asked a lobbyist for the banking industry during a Wednesday House Judiciary Committee hearing. “I feel that it’s more political.”