Firearm laws in Arizona regulate the sale, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition in the state of Arizona in the United States.
Summary table Subject / law Longguns Handguns Relevant statutes Notes State permit required to purchase? No No Firearm registration? No No A.R.S. § 13-3108 Assault weapon law? No No Magazine capacity restriction? No No Owner license required? No No Permit required for concealed carry? N/A No A.R.S. § 13-3102A.R.S. § 13-3112 Arizona is a "shall issue" state for citizens and lawful permanent residents who are 21 years or older.Permitless carry took effect on July 29, 2010. Permit required for open carry? No No May carry openly without permit. Castle Doctrine/Stand Your Ground law? Yes Yes A.R.S. §§ 13-401 to 13-421 State preemption of local restrictions? Yes Yes A.R.S. § 13-3108 NFA weapons restricted? No No Shall certify? Yes Yes A.R.S. § 13-3121 Shall certify within 60 days. Peaceable Journey laws? No No Background checks required for private sales? No No A.R.S. § 44-1382
Firearms carry Open carry On foot, any adult person who is not a "prohibited possessor"'ARS 13-3101 ', retrieved 22 May 2012 may openly carry a loaded firearm visible to others without a permit. 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.
The law does not expressly require openly carried weapons to be in a holster, case or scabbard; however, the open carrying of weapons not in a holster, case or scabbard while on foot in a populated area could be construed as reckless display or, if others feel threatened by such, even assault with a deadly weapon.
In a vehicle, any adult person who is not a prohibited possessor may openly carry a loaded firearm in a vehicle whether in a holster, case, compartment, or in plain view. Persons under 21 may openly carry a loaded or unloaded firearm in a vehicle only if it is in plain view, i.e. discernible from the ordinary observation of a person located outside and within the immediate vicinity of the vehicle.
Concealed carry In Arizona, anyone who is not prohibited from owning a firearm and is at least 21 years old can carry a concealed weapon without a permit as of July 29, 2010.Kiley, Kevin (July 29, 2010). "Arizona's Concealed-Weapon Law Takes Effect" , Arizona Republic. Retrieved June 24, 2015. Arizona was the third state in modern U.S. history (after Vermont and Alaska, followed by Wyoming) to allow the carrying of concealed weapons without a permit, and it is the first state with a large urban population to do so.
Arizona is classified as a "shall issue" state. Even though Arizona law allows concealed carry by adults without permit, concealed carry permits are still available and issued by the Concealed Weapons Permit Unit of the Arizona Department of Public Safety for purposes of reciprocity with other states or for carrying firearms in certain regulated places. Requirements for issuance include taking a training class (provided by a licensed third party) or hunter education class, 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. Renewing a permit requires an application and criminal background check. Arizona recognizes all valid out-of-state carry permits.
State preemption The Arizona legislature has largely preempted political subdivisions (counties, cities) prohibiting them from making what laws that they want. 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 bar the carrying of weapons at public establishments and events by those who do not have concealed carry permits. 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.
Tribal law Native American reservations, which comprise over a quarter of the land area of the state,See e.g. Navajo Nation, Navajo Nation Government , retrieved 31 October 2011 may have gun laws identical to or more restrictive than state law.All about Arizona . http://www.sheppardsoftware.com . Accessed 2010-09-21.Tribal Laws and Concealed Carry , retrieved 31 October 2011: While tribal laws on criminal firearms violations apply only to tribal members who live on reservation lands, they are still used as a guide to enforcement by tribal police for non-tribal members. If you are visitor to a reservation and are carrying a firearm in a manner that would otherwise be legal under Arizona law, such legal possession may not be recognized by tribal law enforcement if it conflicts with tribal law. Instead of arrest, tribal law enforcement will most likely confiscate the firearm and require the owner to go to tribal court to get it back. Some tribal governments in Arizona may not recognize Arizona law on the concealed carrying of firearms without a permit while on tribal land.
All Arizona tribes recognize federal law, including the "safe passage" provision of the federal Firearm Owners Protection Act Act (FOPA). FOPA provides that, notwithstanding any state, tribal, or local law, and while making a continuous journey, a person who is not a prohibited possessor is entitled to transport a firearm or ammunition for any lawful purpose from any place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm to any other place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm or ammunition if, during such transportation the firearm is unloaded, and neither the firearm nor any ammunition being transported is readily accessible or is directly accessible from the passenger compartment of such transporting vehicle.Firearm Owners Protection Act , retrieved 31 October 2011 In vehicles without a trunk, the unloaded firearm or ammunition must be in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console. Recent U.S. Court of Appellate rulings have confirmed that FOPA`s protections only apply to unloaded firearms not readily accessible to the traveler, and many tribal governments have strict laws with respect to firearms being carried or transported on tribal lands.Navajo Nation Hunting and Trapping Information : It is unlawful to possess a firearm with live ammunition in the firing chamber in or on any motor vehicle.."Navajo Nation Criminal Code: Unlawful carrying of deadly weapon T.17 – Section 320(A): Offense. A person commits unlawful carrying of a deadly weapon if he or she carries a loaded firearm or any other type of deadly weapon; (B): Exceptions. Subsection (A) of this section shall not apply to any of the following: ... 2. To persons in private motor vehicle or other means of conveyance, for lawful protection of the person's or another's person or property, while traveling and such weapon is located in a closed trunk, luggage, or glove compartment of a motor vehicle For example, in the event of a vehicle stop, Navajo Nation police will seize any loaded firearm found to be accessible to the driver or passenger.National Geographic, Navajo Cops, Season 255, Episode 30, 11 May 2011 and confiscated firearms are not returnable unless the owner can establish proof of ownership of the firearm and ammunition by presenting a bill of sale or other evidence at the police station at a later date.
Discharging a firearm 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 a 1/4 mile from any occupied structure as defined in section ARS 13-3101. 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.
Under Shannon's Law, unlawful discharge of a firearm within a municipality is a class 6 felony, with a presumptive 1 year imprisonment.
According to the Arizona Gun Owners Guide by Alan Korwin, while discharging a firearm using blanks within the limits of a municipality is not expressly prohibited by law, disturbing the peace (ARS 13-2904) or other charges could still apply.
Prohibited areas 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.