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PHOENIX — State lawmakers are moving to block the ability of Arizona voters to pass their own laws requiring background checks any time a gun is sold.

The legislation given preliminary House approval Thursday would have Arizona enter into an agreement with other states, with each prohibited from enacting any new regulations on the transfer of firearms beyond what already is in federal law.

And once Arizona entered into such a compact, it could withdraw only once every decade.

Rep. Bob Thorpe, R-Flagstaff, admitted HB 2524 is aimed at trying to short-circuit efforts by former Republican New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg — who he incorrectly called a Democrat — to get individual states to do what Congress will not: Close loopholes in federal law which allow the sale of some guns without the need for the buyer to pass a background check.

And Thorpe said he was undisturbed that the compact would overrule the right of Arizona voters, as listed in the state constitution, to propose their own laws when the Legislature refuses to act.

Federal law already requires licensed firearms dealers to doing a background check before selling a weapon to anyone else.