Associated Press

Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich is asking the state Supreme Court to determine if a Tucson city ordinance requiring the destruction of guns seized by police violates state law.

Tuesday afternoon's court filing came about an hour after the Tucson City Council voted to suspend the practice but keep fighting a 2016 state law that punishes cities that violate state laws.

Tuesday's 7-0 council vote comes after a letter was sent to Tucson city officials last week in which Assistant Attorney General Brunn Roysden wrote that failing to comply with these directions would mean a costly legal battle.

Related:Brnovich to Tucson: Protect guns (or else!)

In the letter, Roysden wrote that if the Tucson City Council does not stop the destruction of firearms the Attorney General's Office will file a petition for special action with the Arizona Supreme Court.

City records show that the Tucson Police Department has destroyed 4,820 guns since the beginning of 2013.

The city has continued the practice, saying its charter city status means the law doesn't apply there.

A 2016 law allows an individual lawmaker to ask the attorney general to determine if municipalities aren't following state law.

It forces cities to forfeit state shared revenue if they fail to stop violating the law after an attorney general or state Supreme Court determination.

The attorney general decided last month that Tucson is likely breaking the 2013 law and plans to petition the high court to make a final ruling. Tucson could lose more than $170 million in revenue if the Supreme Court rules against it and it keeps destroying guns.