Arizona Gun Laws

Arizona gun laws are found mostly in Title 13, Chapter 31 of the Arizona Revised Statutes.^[7] There is no registration or licensing of non-NFA firearms in Arizona. In fact, Section 13-3108 subsection B prohibits any political subdivision of the state from enacting any laws requiring licensing or registration.^[8] According to state law, a person must be 18 years of age to purchase any non-NFA firearm from any source; however, there is a federal age limit of 21 years on handgun purchases from federal firearms licensees.

Arizona is classified as a "shall issue" state. Concealed carry permits are issued by the Concealed Weapons Permit Unit of the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Requirements for issuance include taking an 8 hour training class (provided by a licensed third party), submitting a finger print card, and paying a $60 fee. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age. New permits are valid for five years. Permits issued before August 12, 2005 are valid for four years.^[9] Renewing a permit requires only an application and finger print card. However, effective December 31, 2007 the finger print card requirement for renewal is scheduled to end.^[10] Arizona recognizes almost all valid out-of-state carry permits, with few exceptions.^[11]

The law regarding the carrying of firearms in motor vehicles by non-permit holders is complex and has been further muddled by court decisions. However, it is clear that no permit is required to carry a firearm in a vehicle if the firearm is in plain view or locked in a trunk or other place not immediately accessible. "Plain view" means that the firearm would be discernible from the ordinary observation of a person located outside and within the immediate vicinity of the vehicle.

On foot, no permit is required to openly carry a firearm in a belt holster, gun case or scabbard. Generally, a person must be at least 18 years of age to possess or openly carry a firearm. However, this does not apply to:

• Juveniles within a private residence.
• Emancipated juveniles.
• Juveniles accompanied by a parent, grandparent or guardian, or a certified hunter safety instructor or certified firearms safety instructor acting with the consent of the juvenile's parent or guardian.
• Juveniles on private property owned or leased by the juvenile or the juvenile's parent, grandparent, or guardian.
• Juveniles fourteen years of age and up engaged in any of the following activities:
  • Lawful hunting or shooting events or marksmanship practice at established ranges or other areas where the discharge of a firearm is not prohibited.
  • Lawful transportation of an unloaded firearm for lawful hunting.
  • Lawful transportation of an unloaded firearm between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. for shooting events or marksmanship practice at established ranges or other areas where the discharge of a firearm is not prohibited.
  • Activities that require a firearm related to the production of crops, livestock, poultry, livestock products, poultry products, or ratites or in the production or storage of agricultural commodities.^[12]

The Arizona legislature has largely preempted political subdivisions (counties, cities) from passing their own firearms laws. Political subdivisions may regulate the carrying of weapons by juveniles or by their own employees or contractors when such employees or contractors are acting within the course and scope of their employment or contract. They may also prohibit the carrying of firearms by non-permit holders in public establishments and events and in parks of less than one square mile in area. Any such place where a political subdivision has prohibited carry by non-permit holders must be clearly posted. Public establishments and events where carry by non-permit holders is prohibited must provide secure storage for weapons on-site, which must be readily accessible upon entry and allow for immediate retrieval upon exit.^[13]

Indian reservations, which comprise a large portion of the land area of the state, are exempt from the preemption statute, and may have gun laws considerably more restrictive than state law. However, these laws do not usually apply to non-tribal members passing through a reservation in a continuous journey on a major highway.

It is generally illegal to discharge a firearm within or into the limits of any municipality. However, this prohibition does not apply to persons discharging firearms in the following circumstances:

• On a properly supervised range.
• In an area recommended as a hunting area by the Arizona game and fish department, approved and posted as required by the chief of police (Any such area may be closed when deemed unsafe by the chief of police or the director of the Arizona game and fish department.)
• For the control of nuisance wildlife by permit from the Arizona game and fish department or the United States fish and wildlife service.
• By special permit of the chief of police of the municipality.
• As required by an animal control officer in the performance of duties.
• Firing blank cartridges.
• More than one mile from any occupied structure.
• In self-defense, or defense of another person against an animal attack if a reasonable person would believe deadly physical force against the animal is immediately necessary and reasonable under the circumstances to protect a person from harm.
• In self-defense or, in defense of another person against a criminal attack as permitted by the laws regarding defensive use of force.

While discharging a firearm using blanks within the limits of a municipality is not specifically prohibited by law, it could still result in a disorderly conduct charge pursuant to ARS 13-2904.^[14]

State law prohibits the carrying of firearms in certain areas. These prohibited areas include:

• Hydroelectric or nuclear power generating stations. However, this does not apply to:

• A peace officer or any person summoned by any peace officer to assist and while actually assisting in the performance of official duties.
• A member of the military forces of the United States or of any state of the United States in the performance of official duties.
• A warden, deputy warden, community correctional officer, detention officer, special investigator or correctional officer of the state department of corrections or the department of juvenile corrections.
• A person specifically licensed, authorized or permitted pursuant to an Arizona or federal statute.

• Polling places on election day. However, this does not apply to:

• A peace officer or any person summoned by any peace officer to assist and while actually assisting in the performance of official duties.
• A member of the military forces of the United States or of any state of the United States in the performance of official duties.
• A warden, deputy warden, community correctional officer, detention officer, special investigator or correctional officer of the state department of corrections or the department of juvenile corrections.
• A person specifically licensed, authorized or permitted pursuant to an Arizona or federal statute.

• Secured areas of airports. However, this does not apply to:

• General aviation areas not included in the security identification display area or sterile area as defined in the airport security program approved by the transportation security administration.
• The lawful transportation of deadly weapons in accordance with state and federal law.
• A peace officer or a federally sworn officer while in the actual performance of the officer's duties.
• A member of the military forces of the United States or of any state of the United States in the actual performance of the member's official duties.
• An individual who is authorized by a federal agency in the actual performance of the individual's official duties.

• School grounds. However, this does not apply to:

• Firearms possessed for the purposes of preparing for, conducting or participating in hunter or firearm safety courses.
• Firearms for use on the school grounds in a program approved by the school.
• Unloaded firearms carried inside a means of transportation and under the control of an adult, provided that if the adult leaves the means of transportation, it is locked and the firearms are not visible from the outside.
• A peace officer or any person summoned by any peace officer to assist and while actually assisting in the performance of official duties.
• A member of the military forces of the United States or of any state of the United States in the performance of official duties.
• A warden, deputy warden, community correctional officer, detention officer, special investigator or correctional officer of the state department of corrections or the department of juvenile corrections.
• A person specifically licensed, authorized or permitted pursuant to an Arizona or federal statute.

• Establishments which are licensed to sell alcohol for consumption on the premises. However, this does not apply to:

• The licensee or an employee of the licensee acting with the permission of the licensee to be in possession of a firearm while on the licensed premises.
• A person who is on the premises for a limited time to seek emergency aid, if such person does not buy, receive, consume, or possess alcohol while there.
• Hotel or motel guest room accommodations.
• The exhibition or display of a firearm in conjunction with a meeting, show, class or similar event.
• A person with a concealed carry permit who carries a concealed handgun, provided that there is no notice posted forbidding such.
• Peace officers or members of a sheriff's volunteer posse while on duty who have received firearms training that is approved by the Arizona peace officer standards and training board.

• Game refuges. However, this does not apply to:

• Firearms possessed under seal or by written consent of the game commission.
• Persons traversing refuges or over roads therein carrying unloaded devices.
• Landowners, lessees, permittees, their employees, or licensed trappers carrying arms while performing lawful duties.
• Officers of the law in performance of official duties.

• Any private property or private establishment where the owner or lessee has posted signage forbidding the carrying of weapons. However, this does not apply to:

• Officers of the law who are legally executing official duties
• Lawfully possessed firearms that are in a locked and privately owned vehicle or in a locked compartment on a privately owned motorcycle and that are not visible from outside the vehicle or motorcycle.

In addition, political subdivisions have limited power to prohibit the carrying of firearms in certain areas as described above. Carrying a firearm in a hydroelectric or nuclear power generating station is a felony. Carrying a firearm in any other prohibited area, absent any other concomitant criminal conduct, is a misdemeanor. Carrying a firearm on private property or in a private establishment where it has been forbidden by the owner or lessee is not is not specifically prohibited by law, but is held to constitute misdemeanor trespass. The restrictions pertaining to licensed liquor establishments do not apply to liquor stores or other stores that sell only closed containers of alcohol for consumption off the premises.^{[15][16][17][18]}

State law prohibits the possession of firearms by certain categories of people. These prohibited possessors include:

• Anyone who has been found to constitute a danger to himself or to others or to be persistently or acutely disabled or gravely disabled pursuant to court order under ARS 36-540, and whose right to possess a firearm has not been restored pursuant to ARS 13-925. This statute places the burden on the prohibited possessor to present "clear and convincing" psychological or psychiatric evidence in support of the application; i.e. a psychologist or psychiatrist must be willing to testify under oath that the person in question no longer suffers from the mental disorder and no longer constitutes a danger to himself or others or is persistently or acutely disabled or gravely disabled.
• Anyone convicted of a felony, or who has been adjudicated delinquent for a felony, and whose State civil right to possess or carry a gun or firearm has not been restored.
• Anyone who is, at the time of possession, serving a term of imprisonment in any correctional or detention facility.
• Anyone who is, at the time of possession, serving a term of probation pursuant to a conviction for a domestic violence offense or a felony offense, parole, community supervision, work furlough, home arrest, or release on any other basis, or who is serving a term of probation or parole pursuant to an interstate compact.
• Anyone who is an undocumented alien or a nonimmigrant alien, traveling with or without documentation for business or pleasure, or who is studying in Arizona and maintains a foreign residence, except for:

• Nonimmigrant aliens who possess a valid hunting license or permit lawfully issued by a state in the United States.
• Nonimmigrant aliens who enter the United States to participate in a competitive target shooting event or to display firearms at a sports or hunting trade show sponsored by a national, state, or local firearms trade organization devoted to competitive or sporting use of firearms.
• Certain diplomats.
• Officials of foreign governments or distinguished foreign visitors who are designated by the United States department of state.

State Legal Statute Source:

The Concealed Weapon Permit Unit (ccw) operates under authority of the State of Arizona concealed we

State Department Locations:

Arizona Department of Public Safety
Attn: Concealed Weapons Permit Unit
P.O. Box 6488
Phoenix, Arizona 85005
Phone: (602) 256-6280 and (800) 256-6280
Fax: (602) 223-2928
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Arizona Attorney General
1275 W. Washington Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Phone: (602) 542-4266 and (888) 377-6108

Permit Costs & Info:

$60 5 years.
Issuing Authority: Arizona Department of Public Safety

Open Carry Information:

Arizona is one of our "Gold Star" open carry states. There is complete state preemption of all firearms laws, open carry is common and law enforcement is well educated as to its legality. NOTE:Tribal reservations have their own laws and should be avoided or researched prior to visiting.

States that Honor Arizona's ccw permit:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado*, Delaware, Florida*, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas*, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan*, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont*, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming

* Honors RESIDENTIAL Arizona permits only.

State CCW Permits that Arizona Honors:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming,

• Persons who have received a waiver from the United States attorney general.