Laurie Roberts

opinion columnist

Republican legislators have, at long last, found a welfare program they can embrace.

No, it’s not Temporary Aid for Needy Families. Arizona is still on target to throw 2,700 kids off of the program on July 1, so that we can have the nation’s toughest one-year cap.

No, it’s not KidsCare. Arizona continues to be the only state in the nation that doesn’t offer any help for children whose parents make too much to qualify for AHCCCS but not enough to afford health insurance.

But we apparently can afford a welfare program for gun owners.

Thus comes House Bill 2494, a proposal to allow gun owners to deduct the cost of firearms training, up to $80, from their state income taxes.

The bill cleared the House Ways and Means Committee on Monday, 5-4.

The bill is the brainchild of House Majority Leader Steve Montenegro, who wants to offer a tax credit to cover of the cost of safety training needed if you want a permit to carry a concealed weapon.

The Litchfield Park Republican told the committee it’s all about encouraging gun owners to understand how to safely use their guns.

A requirement that gun owners understand how to safety use the guns they’re carrying around in their purse or pocket or wherever?

That’s actually a great idea.

So great, in fact, that I’d think the Legislature would require such safety training.

Instead, our leaders did away with the safety training requirement in 2010.

Today, you can carry a concealed weapon in Arizona without so much as a minute of training in how to safely use it.

I appreciate Montenegro’s attempt to encourage safety training for gun owners. I’m just puzzled as to why taxpayers should have to foot the bill for it.

The tax credit is expected to cost the state about $1.9 million.

Montenegro’s bill bill was approved by Republicans Justin Olson of Mesa, Anthony Kern of Glendale, J.D. Mesnard of Chandler, Darin Mitchell of Litchfield Park, and Jeff Weninger of Chandler. Republican Michelle Ugenti-Rita of Scottsdale joined Democrats Mark Cardinas and Reginald Bolding of Phoenix and Bruce Wheeler of Tucson in opposing the bill.

Bills Arizona Could Live Without