Why brass knuckles ban, championed by 'Gilbert Goons' victim, probably won't pass

Miguel Torres, Arizona Republic
Updated ·2 min read
20

A legislative proposal to ban brass knuckles in Arizona appears unlikely to pass this year.

Senate Bill 1183 ran into opposition from people who were concerned about restricting methods of self-defense, said Sen. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills.

Connor Jarnagan, a 17-year-old who was attacked with brass knuckles in a "Gilbert Goons" attack in December 2022 and launched a campaign to outlaw the weapons, said he was disappointed but not deterred by the news.

“I’m not going to let this setback stop me," Jarnagan said in an email. "I don’t believe we need brass knuckles easily available for purchase by anyone in our community."

Connor Jarnagan, a victim of a brass knuckles attack, prepares to speak at a Senate judiciary hearing where a brass knuckles bill is being proposed on Feb. 1, 2024.
Connor Jarnagan, a victim of a brass knuckles attack, prepares to speak at a Senate judiciary hearing where a brass knuckles bill is being proposed on Feb. 1, 2024.

He said he planned to work on developing a new bill for next year's legislative session that "can hopefully garner enough support to make it through the legislative process."

Kavanagh, the bill's sponsor, said that the bill failed to get a thumbs up from a majority of Senate Republicans — nine or more — in an informal poll. That effectively stopped it from moving forward this year, he said.

“It’s sad because I was going to limit the prohibition to people under 18," Kavanagh said. "It seems like this is a case where philosophy trumped common sense."

Sen. John Kavanagh during a Senate judiciary hearing where a brass knuckles bill is being proposed on Feb. 1, 2024, after the beating of Connor Jarnagan outside of a Gilbert In-N-Out Burger in late 2022.
Sen. John Kavanagh during a Senate judiciary hearing where a brass knuckles bill is being proposed on Feb. 1, 2024, after the beating of Connor Jarnagan outside of a Gilbert In-N-Out Burger in late 2022.

Kavanagh said he wanted to bring the bill back during the next legislative session. A new Senate body, following the November elections, could make a difference, he said.

“It was close this time, so a sufficient shift in new members could take it over the line,” he said.

Arizona is one of 12 states where brass knuckles are legal. In 17 more states, the weapon is legal with a permit.

Sen. Wendy Rogers and Sen. John Kavanagh listen to Connor Jarnagan, a victim of a brass knuckles attack, as he speaks at a Senate judiciary hearing where a brass knuckles bill is being proposed on Feb. 1, 2024.
Sen. Wendy Rogers and Sen. John Kavanagh listen to Connor Jarnagan, a victim of a brass knuckles attack, as he speaks at a Senate judiciary hearing where a brass knuckles bill is being proposed on Feb. 1, 2024.

But some Arizona cities prohibit the possession of brass knuckles. Phoenix's city code makes it illegal to carry brass or any other metal "knuckles."

Brass knuckles are considered a deadly instrument under Arizona law. That makes any assault with them an aggravated assault, increasing the level of a criminal charge from a potential misdemeanor to a felony.

If used in self-defense, the victim would need to justify the use of brass knuckles by proving that they reasonably believed their life was threatened with deadly physical force, according to state law.

In December, an investigation by The Arizona Republic found the "Gilbert Goons" had engaged in a string of attacks on other teens in Gilbert and other East Valley communities for more than a year. Law enforcement records state brass knuckles were used in some attacks.

Reach the reporter at miguel.torres@arizonarepublic.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona brass knuckles ban unlikely to pass this year. Here's why