Arizona CCW Question

[Yahtzee4U]

Hey folks, quick AZ CCW class question. I am about to sign up for a ccw class here and I keep seeing differences in class length. Some classes are 4 hours and some are the standard 8 hours. The DPS site still says under Eligibility that an 8 hour course is necessary. So I was just wondering if someone could shed some light on this or simply let me know that they took the 4 hour class and DPS gave them a CCW permit! Thanks.

 

[armoredman]

I don't find any hourly limit set anymore, it merely has to be an approved class by DPS, http://www.azleg.gov/ars/13/03112.htm , or any else of a very long list of alternate approved training. If you were ever in the military, for instance, that counts.

 

[Frank Ettin]

On the other hand, it's to your benefit to get as much training as you can -- even well beyond whatever the minimum required is.

 

[Yahtzee4U]

Just took the 4 hour class down at Ben Avery, and we really didn't cover anything.....We sat around for about an hour and then went out and shot 15 rounds from 7 yards and then briefly talked about basic laws and rules. I sort of wished I had done the full 8 hour course. I would be interested in taking the advanced pistol courses, seemed like it would be interesting.

 

[Frank Ettin]

...I would be interested in taking the advanced pistol courses, seemed like it would be interesting.

I strongly recommend it.

If you're in Prescott, you're just down the road from one of the top schools in the country, Gunsite. I was just there in May for my third class, this time it was Intermediate Handgun (350). I had taken the entry level handgun class (250) in 2002 and General Rifle (270) in 2006. I wrote this article about the 350 class; you might find it interesting.

Massad Ayoob visits Arizona on a fairly regular basis. He'll be in Phoenix in November. Mas' classes can be an especially good choice if you have a limited training budget, because I don't know anyone else who does as good a job of covering the legal and social aspects of the use of force for private citizens. A year ago last May, I helped out with his MAG40 (entry level) class in Sierra Vista, Arizona and wrote this article about that trip.