The Arizona Supreme Court says a Tucson ordinance requiring the destruction of guns seized by its police department conflicts with a state law requiring the guns to be sold.

Thursday's decision upholds the basic tenets of a 2016 law passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature targeting cities and towns which adopt laws conflicting with those it passes.

The law allows a state lawmaker to ask the attorney general to investigate if a city or town ordinance conflicts with state law. If the attorney believes it does, the city can lose millions in state-shared revenue.

Writing for the court, Vice-Chief Justice John Pelander said it is clear that Tucson's gun-destruction policy conflicts with the state law and must be revoked. Pelander said the court need not decide yet if a provision requiring a city to post a bond to appeal an attorney general decision violates the state Constitution.