Teenagers brutally attacked me with brass knuckles at In-N-Out. Why are these weapons nonetheless authorized?

Exodus 15:2 says, “The Lord is my power and my track, and he has grow to be my salvation; that is my God, and I’ll reward him, my father’s God, and I’ll exalt him.”

As a 17-year-old Christian, I’ve relied largely on my religion, and this verse, following the brutal brass knuckles attack I was a victim of somewhat over a yr in the past.

On Dec. 30, 2022, I used to be ready with a good friend within the parking zone of In-N-Out Burger by the SanTan Village mall in Gilbert round dinnertime. A group of about 10 to 12 teens approached me and certainly one of them demanded cash.

Once I instructed him no, he tried to enter my automobile, and after I tried to cease him and turned to seize my keys, he hit me at the back of my head with brass knuckles.

I stood up and instantly felt a whole lot of blood gushing down my neck and again and soaking into my shirt. It’s a sense I’ll always remember, and one I hope I by no means need to expertise once more.

I am not the one sufferer of brass knuckles

Fortunately, I used to be in a position to drive to a close-by parking zone whereas blood was drenching my seats and name 911. I ended up getting staples in my head, and docs instructed me that had the harm simply been an inch to the left, I might have been paralyzed or killed.

Once I was submitting a police report, I used to be disturbed to seek out out from Gilbert Police that this was the fifth incident with brass knuckles at that In-N-Out that month alone, though not all victims had been keen to file studies.

Happily, the police had been in a position to make an arrest in my case, and the state was in a position to prosecute my attacker. With the latest highlight on teen violence in the East Valley, we’ve got seen a typical denominator in lots of of those circumstances – brass knuckles have been used.

For the previous couple of months, I’ve worked with Sen. John Kavanagh on his proposed Senate Invoice 1183, which might ban brass knuckles and make it tougher to get these weapons within the fingers of the thugs who use them.

Right this moment, anybody should purchase them over-the-counter or on-line with none background checks or every other restrictions in place.

Congress has ignored gun violence. I hope they can’t ignore the voices of the victims.

States like Arizona do not prohibit this lethal weapon

In accordance with my analysis, 21 different states, together with our neighbors Nevada, Colorado and California, have banned brass knuckles. In actual fact, Arizona is certainly one of solely 12 states with no restrictions on them.

There isn’t a helpful objective for brass knuckles – they don’t seem to be utilized in self-defense, regardless of what some might attempt to argue – they usually add nothing to our communities in Arizona moreover contributing to violent crime and offering disturbed teenagers and adults with a weapon that may kill somebody.

That’s why I assist SB 1183 and can do no matter I can to assist with this effort and to symbolize the victims who’ve been harmed by this harmful weapon.

I used to be just lately knowledgeable that resulting from a “majority of the bulk” vote within the Senate, which is an off-the-cuff vote of the 16 Republican senators, that the bill was killed and wouldn’t progress as a result of they didn’t have 9 Republicans who supported it.

I’ve been instructed that lobbying teams like Knife Rights and different Second Modification teams have threatened to drag assist from or actively marketing campaign in opposition to legislators who assist the invoice.

I watched my instructor get shot in 1993. I thought lawmakers would never let it happen again.

Pursuits killed the invoice. It deserves a vote.

This seems like bullies are operating the Legislature behind the scenes, and it’s a far cry from the concept legislators are elected by the folks to symbolize their constituents – not particular curiosity teams.

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I respectfully request a full Senate vote on SB 1183, and would welcome a dialog with anybody who believes that brass knuckles needs to be authorized.

I additionally encourage folks to go surfing to nobrassknuckles.org to signal the petition in assist of the trouble or attain out to your legislators in assist of the invoice.

Collectively, we will make a distinction.

Whether or not it’s this legislative cycle or a future one, I’ll preserve advocating for options that make our communities safer.

Connor Jarnagan was assaulted in one of many earliest assaults which were linked to the “Gilbert Goons” in Arizona. This column first published at azcentral.com. Attain Jarnagan at connorjarnagan3@gmail.com. 

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This text initially appeared on Arizona Republic: Brass knuckles are legal in 21 states. We must ban this deadly weapon