Tucson's gun fight with state will cost city taxpayers $100K

Let this be a lesson to you, cities: Tucson got grounded last month for thinking it was too big for its britches. Now, it's losing some of its allowance as well.

Tucson has agreed to pay the state $100,000 in legal fees after losing a lawsuit over whether Arizona cities have the right to ignore state laws in matters of local interest.

The Arizona Supreme Court put the city in its place, at least when it comes to destroying guns.

Tucson had argued that the Arizona Constitution gives it, as a charter city, control over local matters, regardless of state law. The court narrowed that control, saying it doesn't apply to police matters such as weapons.

It said Tucson's 12-year-old gun ordinance allowing for the destruction of confiscated guns conflicts with a 2016 state law that requires cities, towns and counties to assure their local ordinances comply with all state laws. Another Arizona law requires such weapons to be sold.

Tucson attorney Richard Rollman, who represents the city, sent a letter to the Attorney General's Office Tuesday confirming that the city has agreed to a settlement over legal fees incurred during the time the case was before the Arizona Supreme Court.

The two sides will each cover their own costs incurred fighting the underlying case in Pima County Superior Court.

Over the past five years, Tucson had destroyed about 4,800 unclaimed or forfeited guns, according to court records.

Tucson repealed its gun ordinance last week.

Reach the reporter at alia.rau@arizonarepublic.com and follow her on Twitter, @aliarau.