Ariz. governor signs bill to authorize state guard
by Associated Press (April 28th, 2011 @ 9:08pm)


PHOENIX - Gov. Jan Brewer on Thursday signed a bill authorizing the creation of a state guard- a militia force that could be mobilized if the National Guard is unavailable or ``for any reason'' considered necessary by the governor.

Brewer believed it was prudent to sign the bill giving her additional authority but has no immediate plans to actually create the force, spokesman Matt Benson said. ``It doesn't force the governor to do anything.''

The bill signed Thursday would authorize an Arizona governor to establish the state guard to protect lives and property. Under the bill, the governor could do that if the National Guard or a bit part of it is mobilized for federal duty or ``for any reason the governor considers to be necessary.''

The Arizona Constitution authorizes a militia, and current state law specifies that the militia consists of the National Guard, the Arizona state guard ``when organized'' and the ``unorganized militia.''

Arizona currently only has the National Guard, a trained force that can be mobilized by either the state or the federal government.

Rep. Jack Harper, a co-sponsor of the bill, said during a November interview about the legislation that the volunteer force could be used for emergencies such as radiation leaks, terrorism attacks or for border security.

However, the Surprise Republican zeroed in on a possible border role during heated debate on the bill during an April 18 House vote.

The federal government could abandon Arizona by having the National Guard leave the state ``so that we can be overrun by illegal aliens,'' Harper said.

Democratic lawmakers were derisive during debate on the bill, saying the National Guard wouldn't abandon Arizona and that it would be dangerous to deploy an untrained armed force.

``Once gain the country will look at Arizona and say we resurrected the spirit of Wyatt Earp and are preparing to mobilize for war,'' said Rep. Catherine Miranda, D-Phoenix. ``It sounds ridiculous but it's not a laughing matter but the rest of the country has come to expect this type of legislation from Arizona.''

In 2007, then-Gov. Janet Napolitano vetoed a bill sponsored by Harper to create a volunteer ``homeland security force'' that the governor could deploy for emergencies if the National Guard wasn't available.

Napolitano said it wasn't necessary and noted that state law already allows Arizona governors to call up an ``unorganized militia of adults between ages 18 and 45 in an emergency.

Harper said the 2007 bill was a response to a 2006 federal law that gave the president new authority to place states' national guards under federal control.

More than 20 states have active state guards, according to the website of the State Guards Association of the United States.


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