ARIZONA WEAPONS AND FIREARMS LAWS FAQs

Where am I prohibited from carrying a firearm (open or concealed) on the premises?

Firearm carry is generally prohibited in the following areas:

•Businesses serving alcohol for consumption on the premises (exceptions for peace officers and
ccw permitees, see A.R.S. 4-229, A.R.S. 4-244, A.R.S. 13-3102)

•Polling places on election days (peace officers are excepted)

•K-12 school grounds (some exceptions apply) (peace officers are excepted)

•Commercial nuclear & hydroelectric generating stations (peace officers are excepted)

•Military installations (peace officers are limited)

•Indian reservations (check w/tribe, peace officers are limited)

•Game preserves (peace officers are limited)

•National parks (peace officers are limited); more information available at www.doi.gov or
contact the park service regarding pending federal legislation.

•Correctional facilities

•Federal buildings (peace officers are limited)

•Airports (in or beyond security checkpoints) (peace officers are limited)

•Where federal, state or local laws prohibit weapons (peace officers are limited)

•State or local government/private establishments or events when asked by the

operator/sponsor/agent. Most government facilities will provide a location to temporarily store a
firearm. Persons who refuse to leave and/or secure their weapon are trespassing and can be
cited or arrested for ARS 13-1502 or ARS 13-1503, depending on the venue (peace officers are
excepted)

•Public college or university grounds where carry has been prohibited by governing board
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Where can I lawfully discharge a firearm in Arizona?

Generally, under ARS 13-3107 it’s illegal to discharge a firearm within the limits of any
municipality, except for persons discharging under the following circumstances:

• On a properly supervised range

• In areas recommended by AZ Dept. of Game and Fish
• For the control of nuisance wildlife (by permit only)
• By special permit of chief of police of municipality
• By an animal control officer discharging his duties
• Firing blank cartridges (disturbing the peace charges may still apply)
• More than 1 mile from any occupied structure
• In self defense/defense of others against an animal attack (reasonable persons standard
applies)
• In self defense/defense of others against criminal attack (according laws of deadly force)

When can I carry or transport (open or concealed) a firearm on K-12 school grounds?

•You are an adult in a vehicle and the firearm is unloaded before entering school grounds.
Furthermore, if you must exit your vehicle, the firearm must remain unloaded and be secured
(locked) within the vehicle, out of plain view. Use caution and common sense if you must exit
the vehicle with a firearm to secure it in the trunk (avoid causing a potentially serious
disturbance)

•You are an adult attending a firearms related class (hunter/safety) or participating in a school
program that requires you to bring or possess a firearm and the training or event was scheduled
and approved by school administrators. This exception also applies to a juvenile accompanied
by a parent, grandparent, legal guardian or a certified hunter/firearms safety officer acting with
the permission of a parent or guardian. The firearm will be unloaded before entering school
grounds and should be placed in a case to avoid causing a potentially serious disturbance

•Additionally, designated employees of a school may order a person off of school property if that
person is believed to be interfering with school operations. Under ARS 13-2911, school boards
may also enact specific and more restrictive rules governing firearms and deadly weapons on
school grounds.

Am I required to register my firearm in the State of Arizona?

The State of Arizona does not require citizens to register their firearms with the State. It also
prohibits local jurisdictions (i.e. Counties, Cities or Towns) from requiring licensing or
registration of firearms or ammunition. See ARS 13-3108.
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If I'm traveling through Arizona with a firearm, can I have it in my vehicle?

Generally speaking, yes. However, it also depends on your age and mode of carry inside the
vehicle. For example, Arizona’s “Constitutional Carry” law (est. July 29, 2010) allows any citizen
who can legally own/purchase a firearm and is 21 years or older to carry it loaded and
concealed on their person without any type of permit or license anywhere inside the vehicle.

For citizens 18-20 years old, the law is different. It is unlawful to carry a firearm concealed within
the immediate control of any person in or on a means of transportation if under 21 years of age.
Firearms carried in a vehicle shall be transported in a case, a holster or scabbard, a storage
compartment, trunk, pack, luggage, or glove compartment of a means of transportation.

A.R.S. §13-3102 permits citizens 18-20 years old to store a firearm in a vehicle provided the
firearm is inside a case, holster, scabbard, pack or luggage, or is located within a storage
compartment, map pocket, trunk or glove compartment. Additionally, if the firearm is in a holster,
it can be concealed anywhere in the vehicle without violating the law. This does not permit the
18-20 year old to conceal an unholstered gun underneath his seat. Citizens 18-20 years old
may openly carry a loaded firearm on their person while inside their vehicle provided that the
firearm or holster in which the firearm is carried is visible.

Is it Legal to Carry a firearm in Arizona State and Local Parks or National Forests?

Carrying a firearm inside any AZ State Park is building is restricted per ARS 13-3102. Carrying
a firearm outdoors in a State Park is permissible; however, a Park Ranger may make a
reasonable request to remove a firearm if he or she believes that the person carrying the firearm
poses a danger or threat to others lawfully present. All other prohibitions against discharging
firearms apply.

ARS 13-3108 prohibits cities and counties from banning firearms in parks. Therefore, depending
on your age, you may carry open or concealed in local parks. All other prohibitions against
discharging firearms apply.

While visiting National Forests in Arizona, you may carry a firearm in compliance with state
laws. However, in addition to state laws, you must comply with Federal Regulations pertaining
to the use of a firearm on National Forest System lands.

A firearm may not be discharged in the following National Forest areas:

1. Within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site, or occupied
area; or
2. Across or on a Forest Development road or an adjacent body of water, or in any manner or
place whereby any person or property is exposed to injury or damage as a result of such
discharge; or
3. Into or within any cave. [36 CFR 261.10 (d)]
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Some forest or districts have additional restrictions on discharging a firearm. You are advised to
check with the authorities in the areas you will be visiting.

Which categories of persons can be prohibited from carrying firearms under Arizona
law?

Under ARS 13-3102, a “prohibited possessor” is anyone who is or has been:

1. Found to constitute a danger to self or to others or to be persistently or acutely

disabled or gravely disabled pursuant to a court order under ARS 36-540, and whose
right to possess a firearm has not be restored pursuant to ARS 13-925.

2. Convicted of a felony, or adjudicated delinquent for a felony, and whose State civil right
to possess or carry a gun or firearm has not been restored by separate order of the
court.

3. Serving a term of imprisonment in any correctional or detention facility.

4. Serving a term of probation pursuant to a conviction for a domestic violence felony or a

felony offense, parole, community supervision, work furlough, home arrest, or release on
any other basis, or serving a term of parole or probation pursuant to an interstate
compact.

5. An undocumented alien or non-immigrant alien (including Mexican or Canadian

nationals), traveling with or without documentation for business or pleasure, or who is
studying in Arizona and maintains a foreign residence, except for:

• Non-immigrant aliens who possess a valid hunting license or permit issued by state in
US;
• Non-immigrant aliens who enter US to participate in competitive target shooting event or
to display firearms at a sports or hunting trade show sponsored by 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 US Dept. of State.
• Received a waiver from the US Attorney General.

If I am carrying a concealed firearm in my vehicle and I am stopped by a law enforcement

officer, do I have to tell the officer that I am carrying a concealed firearm? Do I have to
turn over my firearm to the officer?

Under ARS 13-3102, any person carrying a concealed firearm must acknowledge and comply
with the demands of a law enforcement officer when asked if he/she is carrying a concealed
 ARIZONA WEAPONS AND FIREARMS LAWS FAQs

deadly weapon, if the officer has initiated an "investigation" such as a traffic stop. During the
stop, the law enforcement officer may take temporary custody of the firearm for the duration of
that contact for officer safety purposes.

How are knives regulated? Are they treated any differently under the law than firearms?

ARS 13-3120 regulates knives in the State of Arizona and expressly prohibits local governments
from regulating, among other things, their possession, transport or use. "Knife" means a cutting
instrument and includes a sharpened or pointed blade.

Under ARS 13-3101, a "deadly weapon" means anything that is designed for lethal use. The
term certainly includes a firearm, but does not specifically include knives. Knives are generally
regarded as tools. However, knife carriers must obey laws that governing concealed weapons
or that prohibit them from certain places (including courtrooms and other government buildings).

Can a minor carry a pocket knife on his or her person? If so, is there a blade length
limitation?

A pocket knife is a folding knife with a blade less than 4 inches in length. It is not considered a
deadly weapon under ARS 13-3102 and a citizen of any age may lawfully carry a pocket knife
concealed on his or her person, within his or her immediate control in or on a means of
transportation. However, even pocket knife carriers may be required to obey the laws that
govern concealed weapons or that prohibit them from certain places (including courtrooms and
other government buildings).

Links to other information:

DPS website: http://www.azdps.gov/Services/Concealed_Weapons/Questions/

ATF website: http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/
ARS website: http://www.azleg.gov/ArizonaRevisedStatutes.asp?Title=13