Open carry in Tombstone AZ

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TheArchDuke

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My girlfriend is crazy in to westerns so we were talking tonight about visiting Tombstone AZ. She watched some tourist information video that actually encouraged people to open carry as part of their western costumes in town. I don't have a single action revolver myself but I do plan on open carrying as soon as I get into Yuma from this crap-hole (California). Any tips for a person who is new to open carrying? I know to avoid places that serve alcohol and Indian reservations in Arizona. Should I expect harassment or dirty looks or anything like that?

My girlfriend got a BP navy revolver for Christmas, maybe I'll convince her to open carry with me!
 
I've opened carried in Tombstone.No problem.
Be sure to the visit the Boothill Graveyard.It's a blast.The tombstone epitaphs are incredible.
An example:
Here lies Lester Moore
Four slugs from a .44
No Les
No more.
Enjoy your trip.
Avoid the alcohol.
 
Tombstone has what may be a unique problem. From Territorial days in the 1880’s to a few years ago, open or concealed carry was forbidden. Why? Because of it wild west image it attracted not only tourists, but individuals on the far end, that thought they were Wyatt Earp or Doc Holiday, and showed up with loaded handguns ready to shoot it out with actors armed with blanks. Not a good situation. I know of at least two times where the intervention of a deputy prevented what could have been a real tragedy. :eek:

Then faced with a lawsuit the Town Council repealed the old law about the same time that shall-issue CCW was enacted. So in theory you can carry. But the City Marshal and Town Council would be very appreciative if you didn’t. You will find that Tombstone is very safe with next to no crime. They do want you to have a good time, and will do their best to see that you enjoy the many attractions and historical sites they have to offer. But do everyone a favor and leave the hardware in your car. Hats and boots are fine. :cool:
 
If in full period dress, then open carry your single action but don't expect to be welcome@ "The Bird Cage" or "Big Nose Kate's". Az strictly forbids any carry in an establishment where alcohol in sold for consumption on premises. It doesn't matter if it's a bar or "Denny's".
If in regular street dress, I've been asked not to open carry as it scares the tourists. Concealed was never mentioned.
 
I've never been to Tombstone so I couldn't talk about there specifically. But I noticed that some guys were saying not to open carry, it seems to me if you have the freedom from prosecution to open carry you should exercise that so it's
not lost.
 
What a spoilsport you are!

Believe it or not, Tombstone is a real town, not a movie set. The folks that live there don't especially like the thought of a Looney Toon with a loaded six-shooter trying to relive the O.K. Corral gunfight. Those that insist on carrying just too do it are a royal pain in the backside for the local law enforcement people, and the best friend the anti's can have. One highly publicized incident could start a demand for tighter restrictions, which is something we don't want. Put bluntly, you can carry but you won't make any friends.

Is there some reason you have to carry? Besides just showing off?
 
Is there some reason you have to carry? Besides just showing off?

Old Fuff,take a chill pill and read AZ state law.By open carrying, which thousands do every day across the USA,not just the Grand Canyon State,they are just showing off?
Maybe,just maybe, most of them are perhaps, simply exercising their Constitutional Rights.
Good thing you weren't around in 1791 when the thing was being made up.
On the other hand, with a handle like Old Fuff,maybe you were.Scary thought either way.:D
 
The folks that live there don't especially like the thought of a Looney Toon with a loaded six-shooter trying to relive the O.K. Corral gunfight.

So it's ok to carry as long as I don't get fooled into thinking the re-enactors running around in 1880's garb, shooting blanks, and carrying burlap sacks full of "gold" are actual bank robbers. I think I can manage that. Might be tough though. ;)
 
I was just there a couple weeks ago for a wedding, carried my G21 on my hip like I always do and no one so much as looked at me strange. Most places in AZ that haven't been contaminated by CA left-***** are very positive about open or CCW carry. Most folks here realize that more guns equal less crime.
 
Be sure to the visit the Boothill Graveyard.It's a blast.The tombstone epitaphs are incredible.
An example:
Here lies Lester Moore
Four slugs from a .44
No Les
No more.

Did you actually see that there?

Huh. I would never have guessed that Interplay would take a epitaph from Boot Hill and put it in Wasteland.
 
I'm real sorry 203 but if you live within three minutes of Tombstone and you haven't been there you're a liar.

Maybe you don't know it but there is only one road that goes through town. It runs north-south. You have to go to a lot of effort to avoid it.

I live in Arizona too. Maybe you never gone to Benson either. Or maybe you've never been to Sierra Vista or maybe not even Bisbee.

What you say isn't right. Geography got you down.

If you are within 15 minutes of 4th and Allen and have never been there, you're full of it. There isn't even Circle K or 7-11 within 30 miles of where you say you live unless you go to Tombstone.

I've carried open there many times. I carry concealed there every time I go.

Yeah, and the Les Moore line is for real. It's famous.

Boot Hill is on the north side of town. It comes up on the left. Last time I visited it cost me $2.

How dare you tell that kind of lie and expect people to believe it? Hell, I've shot everything that howled or slithered within 10 miles of Tombstone.

I'll take the 5-hour drive back down there just to face your butt. And to do that I won't cross state lines, I'll only cross three county lines.

I really hate it when ppl who are full of crap post this kind of ****. Arizona is my home. We have an incredible written history that dates back more then 500 years. We don't need any liars to prove us up.

You'll find my bullet holes right alongside of Charlie Ringo's.

Three minutes from Tombstone and never been there? Only way to get in and out of town without going there is to take a friggin' helicopter.

Liar! Face me up!

This is my home you are spittin' forth sputum about!

Pick a day and meet me at the old Charleston site. Can't believe you got the huevos to put that thought in front of human beings - three minutes from Tombstone but never been there.

Three minutes and never been there? Next nearest convenience store is a half hour away.

I ask you to personally PM me. Tombstore Arizona isn't exactly around the next corner. Wanna have breakfast?
 
Just to Reiterate...

Double check on the alcohol thing to make sure. I just found out tonight that that is a less common ban than I suspected.
It is still illegal to carry a firearm in any commercial establishment in Arizona that is licensed to serve alcohol for consumption on the premises. While there is no particular effort to seek out those who may be doing so concealed, doing so openly is an invitation for trouble.
 

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You won't have any problems with open carry in Arizona. That's a fact.

I always recommend purchasing The Arizona Gun Owner's Guide beforehand, too. For just one trip? Sure. It's cheap insurance.

Look at it this way. Even with shipping and handling, it's costing you less than half a tank of gas. You drive an SUV? Less than a quarter a tank of gas. Or let's put it another way. It's waaaaay less than an hour's worth of lawyer time.

Plus it's well written and a pretty quick read.
 
Three minutes from Tombstone and never been there?

I've been stationed at Ft. Huachuca for 18 months. I've only been there once :D

BTW, i see people open carry in Sierra Vista almost ever time i go into town.
 
If I'm not mistaken the No Guns in Tombstone Law is the same one that the Earp's posted in 1881.
It lasted till it was repealed around 1994 because it vilolated Arizona state law.
CCW was going around then and the TOMBSTONE movie had brought alot of attention to the town. Generally speaking anywhere else in the state open carry was legal, and still is.
If you carry in the open then you'll find some stores and establishments posted that you cannot enter. So if you want to be a tourist that day the sixgun can be a hinderance.
 
Tombstone is an interesting town, but one heck of a tourist trap. I grew up in AZ, and I visited Tombstone when I was young, then drove through a few times on business. Take money.
Loop, with that handle, maybe he's in Ft Sneeze, and never goes anywhere to see how long it actually takes to get there. Or in Benson, and never goes down Tombstone way? (BTW, when I drove armored, we called the Benson exit the British exit - number 303.:) ) If you two go to breakfast, stop here in Casa Grande and pick me up...

Oh, sorry, back to the OP - yes, open carry is legal in AZ, get the AZ gun owners guide, and go for it. Any sign prohibiting carry on business premises is legal, no specifics, so look carefully at the door where ever you go in. BTW, you CAN get your AZ CCW permit while you're here, 8 hour class, pay for the fingerprints and other fees, and they'll mail it to your home, whatever state that is. Resident is the same as non-resident, and we recognize ALL valid state permits.
C'mon in, and bring cash! :)
 
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