Arizona gun laws are much less stringent than in most other states in the country. State law allows anyone over 18 to open carry, and anyone over 21 can conceal a weapon without a permit. Despite the permissiveness of AZ’s gun law, the constant conversation around gun safety means that law also evolves.

If you are in need of a Scottsdale gun crimes lawyer, contact the Hallam Law Group today.

Conceal or Open Carry

Any legal citizen who courts never convicted of certain crimes, who is not a danger to his or herself, and is over the age of 21 has the right to bear arms in the state. They may concealed-carry or open-carry legally, and no permits are necessary for concealed-carry. However, they must own the gun legally and have a license.

Restoration of Gun Rights

Convicted felons who have committed a crime involving violence, use of a deadly weapon, or possession of a deadly weapon cannot bear arms until the court fully restores his or her civil rights. Sometimes, the courts restore civil rights at the end of a prison sentence, probation, or parole. Other times, the individual must apply separately for the restoration of civil rights. The court approves or denies the request depending on an applicant’s criminal record.

Others Who Cannot Carry a Weapon

The law does not allow individuals who are a danger to themselves to carry a gun. For instance, those who have attempted suicide or suffer mental illness would not be able to receive a gun license. Exceptions to this exist; when the individual completes court-ordered treatment or a court order terminates that treatment, he or she may have access to a legal gun.

Individuals in prison, a correctional facility, or a mental institution cannot bear arms on or off premise, due to either loss of civil liberties or safety concerns. In all of these situations, the courts may restore civil liberties at the end of the term. In the case of mentally unstable persons, they may never be able to legally carry a gun or acquire a concealed weapons permit.

Concealed Carry Permits in AZ

An individual who meets the requirements to own a gun can concealed-carry or open-carry without a license. However, getting an official concealed weapons permit takes time and training. To acquire an Arizona permit for concealed weapons, an individual must go through a safety course, must not be a felon, must be a legal U.S. citizen, and must not have any mental illness.

Arizona, the safety course has no qualifiers, other than that the individual complete a safety course (with proof of that completion). Some companies even offer gun safety courses online that satisfy the Arizona law for a concealed weapons permit.

Limitations on Types of Guns

Arizona law allows for many liberties with firearms but does not allow all gun types. The state prohibits certain types of guns, due to the intrinsic danger they pose.

• Arizona disallows automatic weapons.
• Arizona disallows rifles with barrels less than 16 inches long.
• Arizona disallows shotguns with barrels less than 18 inches long.
• Arizona disallows any firearm modified to a length of less than 26 inches.
• Arizona disallows muffling and silencing devices.
• Arizona disallows firearms that can shoot one or more bullets automatically without the need to reload by the single function of a trigger.

Gun laws change often. and are always a topic of debate in politics. It is important to know the facts about gun laws in the state where you reside. If you have questions about Arizona gun laws, contact the Hallam Law Group now.