By Linda Kor A dozen Arizona lawmakers are pushing for legislation that would make Arizona one of the 34 states necessary to move forward with a Convention of States, while others seek to ensure that the state’s gun rights are not subject to stricter federal laws. The Arizona House Federalism and Fiscal Responsibility Committee passed a resolution to advance the Article V Convention of States application by a vote of 5-3 on Feb. 11. The resolution is sponsored and cosponsored by 12 Arizona representatives, and calls for imposing fiscal restraints on the federal government, limiting the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limiting the terms of office for officials of the federal government. Mark Meckler, founder of Citizens for Self Governance, has been promoting a Convention of States throughout the country and calls it a way to allow the people to govern themselves. He claims that opposition comes not from the political left or the right, but from a specific sector of society. “Society elites believe the American people are too stupid to be trusted with Congress. I can tell you, I’ve traveled all over the country and this country is full of geniuses. Brave, courageous, intelligent people who know what they want. The average person is smarter and cares more for the Constitution than Congress,” he stated. According to Meckler, efforts began last fall and have garnered a great deal of support. In Arizona, the resolution now moves to the Rules Committee for review sometime in the coming week. If it passes the committee, it moves to the Senate floor for review during the legislative session. As lawmakers consider a Convention of States, two other bills are heading to the Rules Committee that would limit the federal government’s ability to interfere with the state’s gun rights. House Bill 1294, sponsored by State Senator Kelli Ward, R-Lake Havasu City, has been joined by various co-sponsors in putting forth the Second Amendment Preservation Act, which considers any federal laws “invalid and void” in Arizona if those laws infringe on the Second Amendment. That bill passed through a state Senate committee in a 6-3 vote. House Bill 2517, sponsored by Rep. Steve Smith, R-Maricopa, would impose a civil penalty of up to $5,000 on city and town governments that enforce gun ordinances stricter than those of the state’s own laws. The bill was approved by a House committee by a 5-3 vote.