Legislature(2023 - 2024)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

02/23/2023 01:30 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS

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Audio Topic
01:31:06 PM Start
01:31:42 PM SB63
02:11:00 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
*+ SB 63 LIMITATIONS ON FIREARMS RESTRICTIONS TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Invited & Public Testimony --
**Streamed live on AKL.tv**
          SB  63-LIMITATIONS ON FIREARMS RESTRICTIONS                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:31:42 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNBAR  announced the consideration  of SENATE BILL  NO. 63                                                               
"An Act relating to restrictions on firearms and other weapons."                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DUNBAR invited Senator Kawasaki to introduce the bill.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:32:39 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR BJORKMAN joined the committee.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:32:50 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  SCOTT KAWASAKI,  District P,  Alaska State  Legislature,                                                               
Juneau, Alaska,  sponsor of SB  63, introduced the bill.  He said                                                               
the Second  Amendment is a  tried-and-true right that  is honored                                                               
in  the  state  of  Alaska.  Alaskans have  a  strong  belief  in                                                               
individualism  and the  right  to bear  arms.  During the  recent                                                               
state emergency declaration, the  state deemed cannabis shops and                                                               
alcohol dispensing  stores essential.  They were allowed  to stay                                                               
open, but  gun shops were  not. He  said SB 63  proposes changing                                                               
that and recognizing gun stores as essential.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  KAWASAKI  said there  are  good  reasons why  in  recent                                                               
years,  Idaho, Kansas,  Louisiana, Montana,  North Dakota,  Ohio,                                                               
South   Dakota,  Texas,   West  Virginia,   and  Wyoming   passed                                                               
"emergency  power" laws.  Temporarily  closing  gun stores  could                                                               
give rise  to a variety  of safety and law  enforcement concerns,                                                               
such as:                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
- An Increase in Investigation Delays Related to Gun Tracing.                                                                   
The Bureau  of Alcohol, Tobacco,  Firearms, and  Explosives (ATF)                                                               
relies  on physical  sales  records to  trace  guns recovered  in                                                               
crime scenes. Federal law requires  firearm dealers to keep these                                                               
records  in their  dealerships. He  said that  temporary closures                                                               
slow  ATF's ability  to examine  records, which  could delay  law                                                               
enforcement's ability to trace guns and solve crimes.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:34:34 PM                                                                                                                    
- An Increase in the Purchase of Black-Market Firearms.                                                                         
Firearm  buyers may  resort  to  black-market firearm  purchases,                                                               
which  undermines the  background check  system. Brick-and-mortar                                                               
dealerships  must  conduct  background  checks  on  would-be  gun                                                               
owners in  Alaska; however, private  sellers are not  required to                                                               
run them.  He said  closing well-regulated,  licensed dealerships                                                               
has the  potential to drive  more buyers to  unregulated markets,                                                               
where felons,  domestic abusers,  and people who  probably should                                                               
not  own guns  avoid  background  checks. He  stated  that it  is                                                               
preferable  that Americans  get guns  from reputable  dealers and                                                               
Alaska has many.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
- An Increase in the Purchase of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Gun Kits.                                                                 
There may  be an increase  in the purchase  of parts and  kits to                                                               
build  do-it-yourself guns  from online  retailers. A  background                                                               
check is  not required to  purchase parts  and DIY kits.  DIY gun                                                               
kits are used  to build "ghost guns," which are  so named because                                                               
they lack serial numbers. He  said that police cannot trace ghost                                                               
guns recovered at crime scenes.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
- An Increase in Gun Store Break-Ins and Thefts                                                                                 
Gun stores  may become  targets for break-ins  and theft  if they                                                               
are  closed during  an  emergency.  This was  a  growing area  of                                                               
national concern  even before the COVID-19  outbreak. High-volume                                                               
gun  store robberies  increased in  recent years,  and theft  may                                                               
increase if the state requires temporary dealership closures.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR KAWASAKI said  the right to keep and bear  arms is sacred                                                               
to  Alaskans and  ensuring this  right  is essential,  especially                                                               
during  an  emergency  declaration.  It  is  the  correct  policy                                                               
decision. He noted that the  Senate overwhelmingly supported this                                                               
measure in the previous legislature, but  it got locked up on the                                                               
House floor on the last day of the session.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:36:55 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNBAR  invited Joe Hayes to  put himself on the  record to                                                               
present the sectional analysis.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:37:07 PM                                                                                                                    
JOE   HAYES,  Staff,   Senator  Scott   Kawasaki,  Alaska   State                                                               
Legislature,  Juneau, Alaska,  briefly  summarized the  following                                                               
sectional analysis for SB 63:                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     Sec. 1. Pages 1   3 lines  4 - 1 Amends AS 44.99 adding                                                                  
     new sections to article 5.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     AS 44.99.510.  Infringements on the  right to  keep and                                                                    
     bear arms; disaster.                                                                                                       
     •  Establishes  that   during   a  disaster   emergency                                                                    
        declared under AS  26.23.020, the governor,  a state                                                                    
        agency, or a municipality may not  issue or adopt an                                                                    
        order,  proclamation,   regulation,  ordinance,   or                                                                    
        policy regarding the following.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     1. Forbidding the  possession, use,  or  transfer of  a                                                                    
        firearm, a firearm  accessory, ammunition,  or other                                                                    
        weapon for personal use.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     2. Ordering the seizure or confiscation of a firearm, a                                                                    
        firearm accessory, ammunition,  or other  weapon for                                                                    
        personal use.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     3. Limiting the quantity or  placing other restrictions                                                                    
        on  the  sale   or  service  of   firearms,  firearm                                                                    
        accessories,  ammunition,   or  other   weapons  for                                                                    
        personal use.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     4. Clarifies the closure or limitation of commerce must                                                                    
        apply equally to  all forms  of commerce  within the                                                                    
        jurisdiction, and cannot selectively  close or limit                                                                    
        the operating hours of the following:                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     Entity  engaged in  the sale  or  service of  firearms,                                                                    
     firearm accessories,  ammunition, or other  weapons for                                                                    
     personal use.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Operation  of an  indoor or  outdoor shooting  range is                                                                    
     prohibited.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     5. Suspending or revoking a permit to carry a concealed                                                                    
        handgun  issued  under   AS  18.65.700,   except  as                                                                    
        provided in AS 18.65.735 (Suspension  of permit) and                                                                    
        AS 18.65.740 (Revocation of permit; appeal.)                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     6. Refusing  to  accept  an  application   to  carry  a                                                                    
        concealed handgun, provided the application contains                                                                    
        the  information   required   under  AS   18.65.710.                                                                    
        (Application  for  permit   to  carry   a  concealed                                                                    
        handgun).                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     •  Clarifies that AS  44.99.510 does  not apply  to the                                                                    
        possession  of  a  firearm,   a  firearm  accessory,                                                                    
        ammunition, or  other  weapon  by  a person  who  is                                                                    
        prohibited from  legally  possessing  a  firearm,  a                                                                    
        firearm accessory, ammunition, or other weapon under                                                                    
        state law.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     •  Establishes that a person  may bring a  civil action                                                                    
        in superior court if a person  is adversely affected                                                                    
        by a violation of AS 44.99.510(a) and  is one of the                                                                    
        following.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     1. Individual  is qualified under state  law to possess                                                                    
     a  firearm,  firearm  accessory, ammunition,  or  other                                                                    
     weapon.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     2. A membership organization  consisting of two or more                                                                    
     individuals  that  are  qualified under  state  law  to                                                                    
     possess  a firearm,  firearm accessory,  ammunition, or                                                                    
     other weapon; and  is dedicated in whole or  in part to                                                                    
     the protection of the rights  of persons who possess or                                                                    
     use firearms or other weapons.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     •  Clarifies that notwithstanding AS 09.17.020(f) - (h)                                                                    
        of Chapter  17.  Civil  Damages and  Appointment  of                                                                    
        Fault,  a  prevailing  plaintiff   may  recover  the                                                                    
        following: greater amount of actual economic damages                                                                    
        or punitive damages in the amount of three times the                                                                    
        plaintiff's attorney fees, court costs, and attorney                                                                    
        fees.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     AS 44.99.595. Definitions. In AS 44.99.500 - 44.99.510                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     • Provides a definition for "Firearm" in AS 11.81.900.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     •  Provides a definition for  "Firearm accessory" means                                                                    
        an item that is used in  conjunction with or mounted                                                                    
        on a  firearm  but is  not  essential  to the  basic                                                                    
        function of  a firearm,  including  a telescopic  or                                                                    
        laser sight,  magazine, flash  or sound  suppressor,                                                                    
        folding or aftermarket stock  and grip, speedloader,                                                                    
        ammunition   carrier    and    light   for    target                                                                    
        illumination.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Sec. 2  Page 3, Line 2 Repeals AS 44.99.500(g)(1).                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:37:56 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GIESSEL  asked for more  information about the  repeal of                                                               
AS 44.99.500(g)(1).                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MR.  HAYES deferred  the  question to  the  Department of  Public                                                               
Safety (DPS).                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:38:37 PM                                                                                                                    
LISA  PURINTON,   Chief,  Criminal  Records   and  Identification                                                               
Bureau,  Division of  Statewide  Services,  Department of  Public                                                               
Safety (DPS), Anchorage,  Alaska, replied that SB  63 repeals the                                                               
definitions for:                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
- firearm accessory;                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
-  generic  and  insignificant   parts  of  a  weapon,  including                                                               
   springs, screws, nuts, and pins;                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
- manufactured,  which means a  firearm, a firearm  accessory, or                                                               
   ammunition that has been created from basic materials for                                                                    
   functional usefulness, including forging, casting, machining,                                                                
   or other processes for working materials.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:41:17 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNBAR asked how the  repealer relates to the broad purpose                                                               
of emergencies  or achieves the  goal of  preventing confiscation                                                               
during an emergency.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MR. HAYES replied that new  definitions in Sec. 44.99.520 replace                                                               
the repealer definitions.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  GIESSEL  mentioned  that  the  public  could  find  Sec.                                                               
44.99.520 on page 2, line 27  through page 3, line 1. The section                                                               
defines "firearm and firearm accessory."                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:42:07 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON asked whether SB  63 creates a private right                                                               
of action  wherein an individual officer,  national guardsman, or                                                               
aid  worker could  be sued  for doing  their job  to protect  the                                                               
public.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:42:32 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. HAYES asked Senator Gray-Jackson to repeat the question.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON asked whether SB  63 creates a private right                                                               
of action  where individual officers, national  guardsmen, or aid                                                               
workers  could be  sued for  doing their  jobs to  protect public                                                               
safety.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MR. HAYES  replied that he  was unsure  on what grounds  a person                                                               
could bring a suit since SB  63 proposes the same recognition for                                                               
gun stores as cannabis and alcohol dispensing stores.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON said she would  like to discuss the question                                                               
offline.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  KAWASAKI  replied that  according  to  Title 26,  Alaska                                                               
Disaster Act, a governor can  take certain enforcement actions in                                                               
an emergency.  SB 63 states  that the  governor may not  issue or                                                               
adopt  orders,  proclamations,  regulations, or  ordinances  that                                                               
prevent a firearm or firearm accessories store from opening.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:44:57 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  GRAY-JACKSON directed  attention to  page 2,  subsection                                                               
d(1), which  speaks to economic  and punitive damages.  She asked                                                               
why punitive damages were included in  the bill and in the amount                                                               
of three times the fees.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  KAWASAKI  replied  that  treble  damages  are  a  fairly                                                               
specific part of law where it  is triple the actual cost. He said                                                               
he  wanted a  specific  penalty  in place,  so  a plaintiff  that                                                               
brings  an action  against the  state could  collect damages.  He                                                               
suggested an attorney might speak better to the question.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:46:10 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR DUNBAR asked  if Senator Gray-Jackson would  like to hear                                                               
from the Department of Law representative.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON said that would be fine.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:46:36 PM                                                                                                                    
MARSHALL  HARBIN, Assistant  Attorney  General,  Labor and  State                                                               
Affairs Section,  Civil Division,  Department of  Law, Anchorage,                                                               
Alaska, answered  questions about SB  63. He noted,  for context,                                                               
that the  Alaska Disasters Act has  a provision that speaks  to a                                                               
government   official  convicted   of   official  misconduct   or                                                               
interference  with constitutional  rights  due  to attempting  to                                                               
confiscate a  firearm during a  disaster emergency.  The official                                                               
could  be  subject  to  impeachment  and  forfeit  any  appointed                                                               
government  position.  He  pointed   out  that  during  Hurricane                                                               
Katrina, a  movement for  private cause  of action  began because                                                               
New  Orleans  law  enforcement  took   a  lot  of  firearms  from                                                               
individuals.  A big  declaratory judgment  required the  state to                                                               
return  guns to  their  owners.  He said  that  in  this type  of                                                               
situation,  attorney's fees  apply even  though an  individual is                                                               
not sued. He said he was  not involved in the development of this                                                               
legislation, so  he had  little to add  about treble  damages. He                                                               
will get back to the committee if members want clarification.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON responded that would be fine.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:49:06 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  DUNBAR asked  whose  interpretation it  is  that only  the                                                               
governor would  be subject  to this private  right of  action. He                                                               
wondered  whether a  lower-level  official  or frontline  worker,                                                               
like a police officer, could be sued under this cause of action.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR. HARBIN replied  that he would confer with  colleagues on that                                                               
question.  He said  his interpretation  of  the bill  is that  it                                                               
seeks  to  avoid an  individual  liability  situation. This  bill                                                               
prevents  the  governor  or  state  subdivision  from  issuing  a                                                               
document allowing the  seizure of firearms. He said  he would get                                                               
back  to  the committee  on  whether  a lower-level  official  or                                                               
frontline worker could be individually liable.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  DUNBAR  said  that the  committee  would  appreciate  that                                                               
analysis. He would like to  know whether the remedy of injunctive                                                               
relief  or  specific  performance  is more  typical  than  treble                                                               
damages  for this  type of  law.  He asked  about the  governor's                                                               
liability, in  a personal  capacity, if  treble damages  apply to                                                               
this bill.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MR. HARBIN replied that he would provide an analysis.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:51:17 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GIESSEL asked whether a legal memo accompanied SB 63.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR KAWASAKI answered no.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR. HAYES  commented that an  invited testifier might be  able to                                                               
answer some of the questions.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:51:49 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNBAR  advanced to invited  testimony and asked  Ms. Cline                                                               
to put herself on the record and provide her testimony.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:52:00 PM                                                                                                                    
AOIBHEANN  CLINE,  State  Director,  National  Rifle  Association                                                               
(NRA), Boise, Idaho,  gave invited testimony in support  of SB 63                                                               
and provided the following written testimony:                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Thank you for the opportunity  to testify in support of                                                                    
     SB  63 on  behalf of  the  NRA's tens  of thousands  of                                                                    
     members in Alaska.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     SB 63 protects Alaskans'  constitutional rights to keep                                                                    
     and  bear  arms  from  government  infringement  during                                                                    
     emergency disaster declarations.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     SB  63  prevents  the  State  and  municipalities  from                                                                    
     acting  under   the  color  of  a   disaster  emergency                                                                    
     declaration  to   arbitrarily  infringe   on  Alaskan's                                                                    
     rights to keep and bear arms.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     This bill also avoids  improperly placing the burden of                                                                    
     proof  on  the  business  owner  to  establish  that  a                                                                    
     firearms  business  is  critical  or  essential  in  an                                                                    
     emergency.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     At the  core of  the Second Amendment  is the  right to                                                                    
     self-defense. The importance of  this right is elevated                                                                    
     in times of chaos, uncertainty, and emergency.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Alaskans must  be able to access  firearms, ammunition,                                                                    
     shooting  ranges and  other essential  firearms-related                                                                    
     businesses during times of emergency.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     SB 63  provides a thoughtful and  effective approach to                                                                    
     balance Second Amendment rights and local control.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     In recent years,  the NRA has worked with  10 states to                                                                    
     implement  or  expand   emergency  powers  protections,                                                                    
     similar to SB 63.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Damages are  a deterrent. Violation of  an individual's                                                                    
     fundamental right in violation  of the constitution and                                                                    
     Alaska  state law  should SB  63  pass, deserve  strong                                                                    
     legal recourse.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     I respectfully request your support of SB 63.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:53:42 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON clarified that the bill number is SB 63.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:54:19 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNBAR opened public testimony on SB 63                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:54:52 PM                                                                                                                    
MARIAN CLOUGH, representing self,  Auke Bay, Alaska, testified in                                                               
opposition to  SB 63.  She stated that  she supports  a citizen's                                                               
right  to  bear arms.  This  bill  is  not about  protecting  gun                                                               
ownership  but about  giving gun  dealers special  privileges. It                                                               
invites needless expense and distracting  legal battles. She said                                                               
that  the   government  is  supposed   to  protect   citizens  in                                                               
disasters.  She  asked how  guaranteeing  gun  stores and  ranges                                                               
remain open  help deal with fires,  tsunamis, landslides, floods,                                                               
or volcanic  eruptions. She questioned whether  Alaska law should                                                               
guarantee the right  of gun stores to remain open  for rioters in                                                               
the event  of an  armed riot.  She said that  SB 63  mandates gun                                                               
shops  and  gun ranges  remain  unregulated,  unlike every  other                                                               
profession,  business, or  gathering.  This makes  no sense.  She                                                               
asked whether state law mandates  cannabis and liquor stores stay                                                               
open or  does it take  power away from  the governor. SB  63 does                                                               
not discuss the seizure of  firearms; the bill is about mandating                                                               
that gun  ranges and  gun shops remain  open. SB  63 incentivizes                                                               
politically motivated individuals and  interest groups to enforce                                                               
the  law through  private  lawsuits. She  wondered  if there  are                                                               
other laws that triple attorney  fees. She asked the committee to                                                               
ensure  that state  and municipal  agencies have  the ability  to                                                               
respond  to disasters  unencumbered by  the political  agendas of                                                               
interest groups.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:57:15 PM                                                                                                                    
JOHN  SONIN, representing  self,  Douglas,  Alaska, testified  in                                                               
opposition to  SB 63. He said  the last shop that  should be open                                                               
during  an emergency  is a  gun shop.  He drew  attention to  the                                                               
argument about  gun tracing, stating  the more  significant issue                                                               
is prioritizing the safety  of Alaskans against misanthropic-type                                                               
individuals who  might purchase firearms or  ammunition during an                                                               
emergency   declaration.  The   priority   during  an   emergency                                                               
declaration is feeding people and ensuring safety.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:59:33 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GIESSEL asked  Mr. Sonin to clarify whether he  is for or                                                               
against SB 63.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MR. SONIN expressed his belief that he is against SB 63.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:59:59 PM                                                                                                                    
ANN  GIFFORD, representing  self,  Juneau,  Alaska, testified  in                                                               
opposition to  SB 63. She said  that the concept behind  the bill                                                               
is fundamentally flawed. The  sponsor statement discusses keeping                                                               
gun stores open; however, the  bill is much broader. It prohibits                                                               
the governor and  other officials from issuing any  kind of order                                                               
that  forbids  the  possession  or  use  of  firearms  during  an                                                               
emergency, among  other things.  Restrictions on  firearms during                                                               
an  emergency happen  all the  time, and  reasonable restrictions                                                               
are almost  universally considered constitutional.  She expressed                                                               
her belief  that Alaskans  do not  want to tie  the hands  of the                                                               
governor or local  officials in an emergency. At  times the state                                                               
needs to  restrict access  to certain areas  to keep  people safe                                                               
and  prevent theft.  The state  might  need to  set up  temporary                                                               
shelters and  field hospitals.  Gun restrictions  prevent looting                                                               
in these places, and it  is no different than prohibiting vehicle                                                               
traffic  in a  restricted area.  She said  sometimes restrictions                                                               
keep people safe, and restricting  an individual's right to carry                                                               
a gun is the same type of  thing. She asked the committee to make                                                               
it  possible for  Alaskan leaders  to respond  effectively in  an                                                               
emergency.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:02:33 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  DUNBAR said  that testifiers  can send  additional written                                                               
comments  to his  office  or the  committee  for distribution  to                                                               
members.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:02:59 PM                                                                                                                    
TAMARA ROSELIUS, representing  self, Fairbanks, Alaska, testified                                                               
in opposition to  SB 63 as a  mom in a gun-owning  family and for                                                               
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense  - Alaska Chapter. She said that                                                               
the question  of who  decides who  can take  guns where  and when                                                               
during  an emergency  is better  left  to trained  professionals,                                                               
local municipalities, state officials,  and agencies. She said an                                                               
immediate,   on-the-ground  response   to  dangerous   conditions                                                               
matters most  in an emergency.  Alaskans trust  elected officials                                                               
to  do  their  jobs;  likewise,   Alaskans  trust  public  safety                                                               
agencies  and trained  emergency safety  personnel to  do theirs.                                                               
This is  why the state  has emergency management. She  noted that                                                               
her  nephew received  years of  emergency management  training to                                                               
work in  the public safety  sector, emphasizing  that legislators                                                               
do not receive  this training. She said the Senate  is asking for                                                               
trouble, putting  politics above the expertise  of trained public                                                               
safety professionals during emergency  management. She said SB 63                                                               
goes  too far  and is  unnecessary  because the  limits on  state                                                               
authority and guaranteed  rights exist and remain  in full effect                                                               
during an emergency,  according to art. I,  sec. 19, Constitution                                                               
of the  State of Alaska.  She referred  to the Department  of Law                                                               
statement   concerning   existing   penalties   against   elected                                                               
officials, stating  triple damage  penalties and  private actions                                                               
against public  safety officers  are unnecessarily  excessive. An                                                               
emergency does  not threaten  the guaranteed  right to  own arms;                                                               
however,  taking   public  safety  from  the   hands  of  trained                                                               
emergency safety  personnel and  putting it in  the hands  of the                                                               
legislature does. She urged the committee  not to move SB 63 from                                                               
the committee for these reasons.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:05:24 PM                                                                                                                    
ROCHELLE  PARKER, Member,  Moms  Demand Action  for  Gun Sense  -                                                               
Alaska Chapter, Anchorage, Alaska,  testified in opposition to SB
63.  She  said that  it  does  not  make  sense to  restrict  the                                                               
government's  ability to  make public  safety decisions  during a                                                               
disaster when there are a  multitude of unknowns to consider. For                                                               
instance, it would not make  sense to prohibit state or municipal                                                               
leadership  from regulating  firearms  within temporary  shelters                                                               
run by  the military, the  Red Cross,  or the government  after a                                                               
significant  earthquake.   People  can  behave   irrationally  in                                                               
disaster situations,  and municipal  or state leaders  might need                                                               
to take  necessary measures  to prevent  theft or  violence. This                                                               
bill is an unnecessary broadening  of Alaska's preemption law; it                                                               
already prevents  local authorities from overriding  state policy                                                               
on firearms.  She said that  as a  mother of young  children, she                                                               
wishes that the legislature would  quit wasting time on this type                                                               
of bill  and focus  on more  pressing issues.  She said  that the                                                               
legislature's  main focus  should  be better  funding for  public                                                               
schools  and  preventing  gun  violence  and  suicide  in  Alaska                                                               
communities.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:07:06 PM                                                                                                                    
LUANN  MCVEY,  Volunteer, Moms  Demand  Action  for Gun  Sense  -                                                               
Alaska  Chapter, Juneau,  Alaska, testified  in opposition  to SB
63.  She said  that  she  does not  understand  the logic  behind                                                               
legislation  that   blocks  the  governor,  state   agencies,  or                                                               
municipalities from  acting to restrict  the possession,  use, or                                                               
sale of:                                                                                                                        
- firearms,                                                                                                                     
- firearm accessories,                                                                                                          
- ammunition, or                                                                                                                
- other weapons                                                                                                                 
during  a  disaster emergency.  This  includes  not allowing  the                                                               
governor, state agencies, or  municipalities to temporarily close                                                               
gun stores or ranges.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MS.  MCVEY  said  emotions  tend   to  run  hot  during  such  an                                                               
emergency,   which  may   necessitate  gun   sales  or   gun  use                                                               
restrictions to limit the chaos  that can erupt when angry people                                                               
have easy  access to  firearms. She  believes that  state leaders                                                               
have the ability to discern  when limits are necessary. She urged                                                               
the committee  not to take away  a tool that state  leaders could                                                               
use for  constructive purposes  to disarm  those who  might cause                                                               
harm  to  others.  Guns  are  not the  answer  to  human  strife,                                                               
especially  during  a  declared  disaster  emergency.  She  urged                                                               
members not to pass SB 63 from committee.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:08:47 PM                                                                                                                    
ANTONIA LEONARD,  representing self, Wasilla, Alaska,  stated she                                                               
is undecided whether she opposes or  supports SB 63. She said she                                                               
would  like  a  gun  around  if  her  liberty  or  children  were                                                               
threatened. She said  that she does not own a  gun or really like                                                               
guns, but she  knows people who do. She said  this is a sensitive                                                               
subject and suggests Alaskans listen to all viewpoints.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:10:30 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  DUNBAR  closed   public  testimony  and  held   SB  63  in                                                               
committee.                                                                                                                      

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
2. SB 63 vers. A.PDF SCRA 2/23/2023 1:30:00 PM
SB 63
7. SB 63 - FN DOL.pdf SCRA 2/23/2023 1:30:00 PM
SB 63
Emergency Powers Table (2-8-23).pdf SCRA 2/23/2023 1:30:00 PM
SB 63
Martinez v Villanueva - Emergency Powers.pdf SCRA 2/23/2023 1:30:00 PM
SB 63
Texas_legal opinion_local gov code cannot restrict firearm sales through emergency declaration.pdf SCRA 2/23/2023 1:30:00 PM
SB 63
1. SB 63 Sponsor Statement vers. A.pdf SCRA 2/23/2023 1:30:00 PM
SB 63
3. SB 63 Sectional Analysis vers. A.pdf SCRA 2/23/2023 1:30:00 PM
SB 63
4. SB 63 - LOS Since 2.23.23_Redacted.pdf SCRA 2/23/2023 1:30:00 PM
SB 63
5. SB 63 - LOO since 2.23.23_Redacted.pdf SCRA 2/23/2023 1:30:00 PM
SB 63