Guests - Matt Neely, Dave Smith, Tom Horne, Greg Roeberg
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has drawn sharp criticism following recent remarks suggesting that the state's self-defense laws could apply to residents encountering masked federal immigration agents. The comments, made during an interview with 12 News, have ignited a firestorm among legal experts and political candidates who argue the rhetoric is both factually incorrect and dangerously inflammatory.
The Controversy Over Stand Your Ground and ICE
The Attorney General suggested that Arizona’s "stand your ground" law, which permits the use of deadly force if a person believes they are in imminent danger, could create a "recipe for disaster" during clashes between protesters and federal officers. Mayes pointed to the practice of federal agents wearing masks and plain clothes as a point of concern, stating, "real cops don't wear masks". She further noted that as a gun owner, she might not know if an unidentified masked individual is a peace officer.
Critics were quick to challenge the legal basis of these statements. Under ARS 13-404, Arizona’s self-defense law specifically does not apply to resisting an arrest. Furthermore, ARS 13-413 (justification for the use of force) and ARS 13-419 (defense of residential structure) explicitly state these protections do not apply against law enforcement officers.
"This is beyond dangerous," said Greg Roeberg, a candidate for Arizona Attorney General. "Her comments that stand your ground laws apply to ICE officers—that's not a matter of opinion. As a matter of fact, that's wrong".
Institutional Opposition and Public Safety Concerns
The fallout from Mayes' comments has extended to various levels of state leadership. Matt Neely, sitting in for Kathleen Winn on the first part of Winn Tucson, characterized the remarks as "irresponsible rhetoric" that could lead to violence. U.S. Representative David Schweikert also condemned the statements, labeling them a "permission structure for violence".
Superintendent of Public Instruction and former Attorney General Tom Horne emphasized that such rhetoric is particularly hazardous when interpreted by psychologically unstable individuals. "The job of the Attorney General is to enforce the law and not to do things like that," Horne stated. "Mayes labeling law enforcement as unconstitutional is way more politics than the law".
Local political commentator Dave Smith echoed these sentiments, noting the potential for an "asymmetry of power" when elected officials use their platforms to denigrate law enforcement. He argued that Mayes is attempting to "instigate an incident" to further a political agenda against the Second Amendment and self-defense rights.
Local Governance: From Sanctuary Policies to Retail Theft
The debate over federal immigration enforcement has also moved into Tucson’s City Hall. The City Council recently voted unanimously to prevent ICE from using city property for its operations unless a valid warrant is present. This "virtue signaling," as described by Neely, is seen by some as a move toward unofficial "sanctuary city" status.
Critics point to the 2025 hostage crisis in the Julia Keene neighborhood involving Julio Cesar Garcia as evidence that shielding enforcement activity can have dire local consequences. "If you live in that neighborhood, you ought to be picking up the phone and calling Selena Barajas, your council person, and asking what in the world are you doing," Neely argued.
Beyond immigration, the conversation turned to local ordinances in Phoenix, where a new law holds retailers accountable for "abandoned" (often stolen) shopping carts. Retailers can now be fined $25 to $50 for every cart returned by the city. This policy has been criticized as "punishing the victims of crimes," as the costs of compliance and GPS tracking are ultimately passed on to consumers.
The State of Education and School Safety
Superintendent Tom Horne provided an update on the state of Arizona’s schools, highlighting a significant milestone: over 100,000 students are now utilizing the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) system. This growth from 11,000 to 100,000 in three years indicates that parents are increasingly seeking educational options that align with their priorities.
Horne also emphasized his commitment to school safety, having increased the number of School Resource Officers (SROs) in Arizona schools from 110 to 565. He credited an SRO with preventing a potential tragedy at a Tucson charter school after an armed individual entered the building with the intent to harm students.
"Students cannot achieve academically if schools are not safe," Horne stated. He criticized "left-leaning people" who oppose police presence in schools, arguing that they are "playing Russian roulette with the lives of their students and faculty".
Looking Toward the Election: Integrity and Lawfare
The political landscape in Arizona remains dominated by discussions of election integrity and "lawfare". Candidate Greg Roberg highlighted several ongoing cases pursued by Mayes' office, including the prosecution of Cochise County Supervisor Tom Crosby and the indictment of alternate electors from the 2020 election.
Roeberg, who served as an attorney for the Trump campaign, argued that Mayes is using the Attorney General’s office to settle political scores rather than focus on public safety. "This office is crucial," Roeberg said. "It needs to be run properly like an efficient machine; it can't be used to simply settle political scores".
His proposed agenda includes verifying citizenship on federal-only ballots and ensuring the Elections Procedures Manual (EPM) does not subvert legislative intent. "The chief legal officer of the state... misrepresenting the law in a way that can encourage violence is a hot topic," Roeberg concluded. "We need to turn the office back into one of integrity and focused on the law".