State Representative David Marshall's (R-7) HB 2733, which authorizes Arizona law enforcement to disable, capture, and shoot down drones used by the Mexican drug cartels in cross-border operations, has been signed into law.
As we previously covered in February, Rep. Marshall's bill grants immunity from liability to peace officers who intercept, capture, disable, shoot, or destroy an unmanned aircraft initially within 30 miles of the state's international border, but the newer version signed into law states drones suspected of cartel activity can be shot within 15 miles of the border.
The bill received bipartisan support across the Grand Canyon State's government. Attorney General Kris Mayes spoke in favor of the bill with Rep. Marshall at its introduction and on Fox News.
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AG Mayes called BH 2733 an "important tool" in battling the cartels, as "more than half of all the fentanyl seized in the United States was actually seized in Arizona over the last two years."
"We are at the epicenter of this terrible fentanyl crisis, and so by allowing our local law enforcement officials, including our sheriffs, our police chiefs, and police along the border, to shoot these drones down, you know that those are lives saved," Mayes added.
With the bill now law, Rep. Marshall issued a statement celebrating the signing, saying, "These drones are being weaponized by cartels and traffickers to exploit our border."
"They're scouting our law enforcement positions, smuggling drugs like fentanyl, and coordinating criminal operations in real time. Officers shouldn't have to face lawsuits just for doing their jobs and stopping these threats. HB2733 affirms that Arizona stands with law enforcement, not with the cartels," Rep. Marshall continued.
The State Congressman further declared that he and fellow Arizona Republicans are "standing with law enforcement in the fight against fentanyl and securing our border" and that "With this law, our officers can act quickly and decisively to stop cartel operations without worrying about legal blowback."
