Links to Arizona CCW related sites.

Arizona

When Columbus discovered America, Arizona was inhabited by ancestors of present day Indians. The written history of Arizona began when the Spaniards sent exploration parties northward from Mexico. The first was a Franciscan priest named Marcos de Niza, who entered the territory in 1539.

 In 1821 Mexico declared its independence from Spain and eventually went to war with the United States. This war ended in 1848, and the land north of the Gila River became United States territory. In 1853 the rest of the area was acquired by the Gadsen Purchase. Then the great westward movement of our early pioneers began, and Arizona entered the phase of its history which has provided so much story material for books and movies.

Men came West to seek their fortunes - adventurers, prospectors, farmers, businessmen, builders. To protect them against the Indians who fought fiercely to keep back this change in their land, the army also came and built its forts. Only the most brave and hardy pioneers came until the last of the Indian uprisings were finished and final peace won in 1886. Development of the state then surged forward.

Back in the ages of its creation, there had been formed in Arizona land great deposits of gold, silver, copper and other minerals which were now uncovered by the prospectors. Lusty new towns sprang up near the mines.

Great fortunes were made and lost, sometimes in a single 24 hours. While prospectors were "striking it rich," other pioneers saw their fortunes of the future in another aspect of Arizona land aspect of Arizona land. Farmers cultivated crops along rivers and streams as had the Indians before them. Others brought in cattle to roam the range land. Still others saw Arizonans an ideal place to raise sheep.

Law and order were slow to catch up with the sudden growth of the frontier. Bitter gun battles broke out between the cattlemen and sheepmen, each wanting the grazing land and water rights.

With the leadership of the pioneers themselves, United States Marshals finally made a peaceful territory of Arizona, where crops, cattle and sheep, as well as mining, all became important in building the future of the state.

In 1912, its lawless, boisterous frontier days behind it, Arizona became the 48th state to join the Union and its modern advance began.

Open Carry Rule

Arizona is an "open carry" state, which means that anyone can legally carry any (legal) weapon in the open, without any permits, as long as the weapon is: 

• Kept in a holster or scabbard
• At least partially visible on your person, or;
• Kept in a container or the glover compartment of a vehicle (still must be holstered, however)

This means that it is perfectly legal to carry a loaded handgun or revolver on a belt holster, out in the open, while you walk down the street, and no special permits are required.  You CANNOT, however, unholster that weapon without a very good reason, nor can you walk around holding a gun in your hand or tucked into your pants.  You must have a bona fide holster or case to keep it in, and both the gun AND holster must be openly visible. 

However, the cases do not have to be locked, unlike most states, nor even capable of locking.
 

Concealed Carry Permits

Known as "CCW's," concealed carry permits allow anyone to carry a weapon on their person out of sight.  They are available to anyone who meets the state of Arizona's (rather lax) criteria:

• Be at least 21 years of age
• Have no felony convictions
• Be in the country legally
• Pass an Department of Public Safety approved firearm safety course (can be done in most community colleges)

Below you are links to informational sites related to the Arizona Gun laws and regulations. ( Legal lawyer stuff as follows: Center-fire- Greenfield Industries are not responsible nor endorses any information found on listed links. blah, blah, blah. You get the picture. Take everything you read with a grain of salt.)  We have even included some comical links such as the Brady Campaign , because everybody enjoys a little fictional reading from time to time.