2/22/16 Arizona weapons possessors may be subject to serious criminal penalties if they take weapons to another state.
Driver’s licenses issued under Arizona law are recognized as valid throughout the United States. What people may not realize is that while Arizona weapons laws give many people the right to possess weapons, unlike driver’s licenses Arizona’s rights to possess weapons do not necessarily give Arizonans rights to possess weapons in other states.
For example, New York only allows people to possess weapons if they hold weapon permits issued under New York or Federal laws. A person possessing a loaded firearm in New York without a valid New York or Federal permit is guilty of a Class C Violent Felony, for which the mandatory minimum sentence is three and one half years in state prison. Further, a “loaded firearm” also includes the possession of an unloaded firearm and ammunition at the same time.
A common way for a person to be facing these charges in New York is for the person to fly there with a firearm. Federal law allows someone to carry a firearm in checked baggage as long as it is properly declared at the airline check in counter. The person who is lawfully possessing the firearm in Arizona stores the unloaded firearm and ammunition in the same container, which is checked into luggage and then flies to New York with no problem. When returning to Arizona the person follows the same check-in procedure at the New York airport and upon declaring possession of the unloaded firearm with the ammunition in the same container is arrested and charged with Possession of a Loaded Firearm. So while the person has no problems at the Arizona airport, trying to return home from the New York airport they face mandatory prison time and conviction for a dangerous felony.
For a list of states which give reciprocity to Arizona weapons laws please go to the website below:
https://www.azdps.gov/services/public-services-center/concealed-weapons-and-permits
For more information see the New York Times article at:
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