There is currently a campaign taking place in Arizona that is offering people free guns, according to USA Today.
The Armed Citizen Project is a national campaign to allow single moms and homeowners to protect themselves with firearms—that they will not have to pay for.
The campaign is adding tension in a state that witnessed the effects of gun violence on many people including Congresswoman Gabby Giffords.
Real Estate Agent Shaun McClusky is a part of a campaign and expects to start handing out the free weapons in May.
"If you are not willing to protect the citizens of Tucson, someone is going to do it, why not me? Why not have armed citizens protecting themselves," he said.
So far supporters of the movement have given approximately $12,500 to the project. They plan to raise more since it cost about $400 person for the gun and training on how to use the gun.
After a long recovery from being shot in 2011, Giffords has been a huge advocate of stronger gun laws. She has openly supported the idea of background checks for new gun owners.
The Tuscon City Council has agreed with Giffords and approved mandatory background checks. However, they say the gun giveaway is legal and there is no reason to stop it.
According to Tuscan authorities, violent crime is at a 13-year low. The city averages about 50 homicides a year. Regina Romero, the vice mayor of the city, believes Tuscan is not much different than anywhere else.
"Just like any other city in Arizona and in the nation we have our issues, but it is not crime-ridden. I would never say you have to carry a gun or you have to be afraid for your life,” she said.
Garen J. Wintemute is the director of the David Violence Research Program at the University of California. He said that there are both good and bad pieces that can come with this gun giveaway.
"People don't want to confront an armed person at home," he said. "But, separately, there is solid evidence that in communities with higher rates of gun ownership, burglary rates are up, not down, and that's because guns are hot loot."
According to Alan M. Gottlieb, founder of the Second Amendment Foundation, this move by gun supporters in Arizona may just be a response to a call for stronger gun laws.
"All this is happening because it's a pushback," he said. "If others weren't screaming for more control you wouldn't see all the sales for guns and ammunition."
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