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By: Harold Plick, Mon Apr 30th, 2012
On April 16, 2010, the state of Arizona became a Constitutional Carry state. This means that any law abiding citizen over the age of twenty-one can carry a concealed weapon without a background check, training, or a permit. Even though this is the case, the Arizona Department of Public Safety still has the authority to issue an Arizona Concealed Carry permit. Although an Arizona Conceal Carry permit is no longer necessary in order to carry a concealed firearm, there remain many good reasons to obtain one. When issued an Arizona concealed carry permit you have demonstrated that you have the knowledge and skill to handle a weapon.
Apart from the fact that acquiring a permit is the right thing to do, without a permit you are subject to a great many prohibitions. Since Arizona has reciprocity agreements with thirty states, if you have an Arizona CCW permit you can carry your firearm in those states, without a permit you cannot carry your firearm except in the five Constitutional Carry states. Without an Arizona CCW permit the law forbids you to carry a concealed firearm into any establishment that serves alcohol. On the other hand, with a permit, if you are not drinking, and the establishment does not prohibit the carrying of firearms, you can carry a concealed weapon. Additionally, since without a permit you are not allowed to carry a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school, in Phoenix this makes it all but impossible to carry a concealed weapon without a permit. These are some of the restrictions Arizonans without a permit will encounter.
If the police stop you, and they discover your weapon, although not technically legal, they may conduct a background check. Although you may not have a criminal record, if you do not have an Arizona CCW permit, although you are within your rights, you may be perceived as a person of suspicion. Your concealed weapon permit will automatically identify you as one of the good people.
In order to obtain an Arizona Conceal Carry permit you must first take a firearms course. The CCW Arz school curriculum exceeds the minimum requirements of the Arizona Department of Public Safety. It teaches, among other things, firearms safety and storage, where a concealed firearm can and cannot be legally carried, and laws relating to the use of lethal and non-lethal force.
When you enroll in a course offered by the CCW AZ School you have the option of a one, three, four, or eight hour class. You will also receive help with completing Arizona CCW permit paperwork. That is not all, free fingerprinting, required to obtain an Arizona concealed carry permit, is also part of the offering. In addition, if you do not own a gun at this point in time, one will be loaned to you at no charge. Upon completion of the course, you receive a certificate. Recently added to the curriculum is an even easier way to acquire an Arizona Conceal Carry permit. With a thirty minute dial in conference call and power point presentation a permit issuance is possible.