You will not need a gun license to own, shoot, or carry in Arizona.
Arizona is a constitutional carry state. For better or worse, age of majority can carry open. A gun owner must be aged 21 years to carry concealed, without permit.
Benefits of a CCW Permit
That said, there are benefits to having a concealed carry permit even though it is not legally required in Arizona.
For one, you might be eligible for some open or concealed carry reciprocity in other states that wouldn’t otherwise let you carry at all.
For two, having a concealed carry permit and a gun training journal can work in your favor in the event that you must use deadly force to defend yourself.
A third benefit is that if you were to buy a gun, would need to pick it up from an FFL dealer, and these folks usually give you a discount on their fee because having an active CCW permit means you already have certain background checks in place.
Be that as it may, many CCW classes are now teaching the class more so with emphasis on using the CCW permit as a legal defense tool in the event that you must use deadly force: The CCW Permit doesn’t protect you from prosecution; it helps build a case for your character and credibility should you have to prepare a legal defense for use of deadly force.
Protect Your CCW?
Something you might also consider with your CCW permit, or as a gun owner in general, is CCW insurance, which is another topic.
Thank you to our village member for this question! 😊
……..
The 4 Universal Rules of Gun Safety:
1. The gun is always loaded! In the event that you are certain the gun is not loaded, read the first part of this rule again.
2. Never point the gun’s muzzle at anything you are not ready and willing to kill, maim, damage, or completely destroy.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
4. Know your target and what is beyond your target (for example, behind your target is a wall, and behind that wall is a bedroom. If you don’t know who and/or what is in that bedroom, don’t know your target and what is beyond your target).