Arizona gun laws that are meant to protect its citizens' rights to bear arms. Nationally, the state is among the most permissive for carrying of handguns. It does not require a permit to carry a concealed weapon, and it only issues permits as a way to help its citizens preserve their rights to carry in other states.
The gun rights organization OpenCarry.org calls Arizona a “gold star” state in comparing it nationally for its permissive handgun laws and the general respect for those laws that police and other law enforcement show.
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Like many states,
Arizona has a constitutional provision to protect gun ownership. It states, “The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself or the State shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain, or employ an armed body of men.”
No state permit is required according to Arizona gun laws to own, buy, or possess a handgun, shotgun, or rifle.
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Gun control advocates give Arizona poor marks in comparison to other states. In 2013, the
Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence placed Arizona gun laws 50th out of 50 states for gun safety. According to the
Center for American Progress statistics, the state gun death rates 40 percent higher than the national average.
“Women are more at risk of being killed by a gun in a domestic dispute in Arizona than almost anywhere else in the country,” the group says.
It does not appear that Arizona gun laws are going to get tighter any time soon. According to the Sonoran News, new Arizona gun laws passed in 2014 make it even easier in Arizona to own and lawfully use guns. Among the laws are a provision to allow military members who are 19 to apply for a conceal carry permit and military members stationed in Arizona to apply for in-state hunting licenses. New laws also protect the firing of guns on private land, even private land within city limits.
This article does not constitute legal advice. Check the current gun laws before purchasing or traveling with a firearm.
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