Upcoming trip to Arizona

[steverjo]

My wife and I are driving to the Show Low/Pinetop area of Eastern Arizona next week, and we are going to be taking one of our pistols. I have a Utah Non-resident CCW and live in California. After we cross the border into AZ, i plan on carrying the pistol concealed.

I know AZ is a pretty gun-friendly state, but what about restaurants. I figure places like McDonald's are ok, but what about a nice steak house. I do not frequent bars, but i do like to have a nice dinner. Do most places have signs that indicate if guns are welcome or not?

We plan on taking 40 through Kingman and Flagstaff on the way there and return by 17/10 through Prescott and Phoenix. We have business to attend in Pinetop (my wife is an artist and is having a reception in a gallery there), but we also want to look at property to move to in the near future. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

 

[WayneConrad]

You may not carry, concealed or otherwise, into any establishment where any part of the establishment is licensed to serve alcohol on the premises. Other than fast food joints, this will make restaurants off limits. Sorry.

I'm not familiar with I-40 specifically. In Arizona in general, you may pass through native lands which have their own firearm laws. Do not count on your CCW being honored. The general rule is that the road passing through native land is alright, and not counted as native land for the purposes of firearm law, but if you had to leave the road for a potty break, or to buy native goods, or whatever, lock your sidearm up before conducting your business there.

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

Give us locals a chance to meet and greet. There are a few of us up here hiding in the mountains who could show you around the area.

You can carry openly as long as you don't go into a place which serves or sells alcohol for on premises consumption.

The I 40 corridor is mostly Indian land. After you make the turn onto 77 heading through Holbrook you will hit BLM or National Forest, aside from private land. When you get through Pinetop/Lakeside you are back on Indian land. Do not get caught with a firearm in plain sight. You could easily end up with your car and all of it's contents being confiscated, and it is hell getting it back.

When you head down the mountain through Heber/Overgaard you are back on public land, BLM or National Forest. South of Payson you run into large stretches of Indian land again. Most of the east valley (Phoenix metro area) is built bordering on Indian land, and some of the shopping centers are ON Indian land.

If you want more info on the White Mountains, Show Low Pinetop/Lakeside area, PM me and I will help however I can.

 

[Evocatii]

Not to discount your guy's knowledge, but my last visit to Phoenix in April yielded a different story. I had heard about the law that denied concealed carry into establishments that sold alcohol for on sight consumption so I called the local police department for clarification. They told me that it wasn't an issue. I thought "Great," no worries. In Colorado, you can carry into a bar (etc) as long as you don't consume alcohol.

 

[kungfucowboy]

Not to discount your guy's knowledge, but my last visit to Phoenix in April yielded a different story. I had heard about the law that denied concealed carry into establishments that sold alcohol for on sight consumption so I called the local police department for clarification. They told me that it wasn't an issue.

well what the law states and what the police decide to care about are 2 different things.
If you are carrying concealed nobody sees it, if nobody sees it nobody makes a complaint, no complaint no police involvement.
if someone sees it, they may say something to the management, most likely the management doesn't want police bothering their customers so they ask you to leave, you leave again no problem.

the chances of you getting into trouble carrying in a reastuant are very small but it's still against the law

 

[Triphammer]

I just perused A.R.S. 13-3102 for the prohibition on carrying while in restaurant & bars & it's not there anymore. Does anybody know if it's moved or gone.
Gone would be great, but I don't think it is.

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

This is what I found!

Robbie Sherwood
The Arizona Republic
Apr. 26, 2005 12:00 AM

Gov. Janet Napolitano said no on Monday to mixing guns and alcohol in Arizona nightspots.

Napolitano rejected a bill that would have allowed patrons to carry loaded guns into bars, nightclubs and restaurants as long as the patrons didn't imbibe. She delivered that veto along with eight others, rejecting more bills in one day since the 16 budget measures she vetoed last month.

The governor risks angering the National Rifle Association, which claims 100,000 members in Arizona and has lobbied for two years so gun owners could dine in restaurants that served alcohol without leaving their guns behind. advertisement




Napolitano said she is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, but she chose to side with Arizona's tourism and hospitality industry, the powerful lifeblood of the state's economy, and with major law enforcement organizations. They all opposed the bill, saying it would invite deadly altercations.

"Arizona's law enforcement organizations have consistently opposed this legislation, and their concerns have not been addressed by the sponsors of this bill," Napolitano wrote in her veto letter. "I am also sympathetic to the concerns of property owners, including the owners of bars and restaurants that would have been adversely affected by this bill."

Although Republicans hold majorities in the House and Senate, overriding the veto would seem unlikely. Lawmakers would need 40 of 90 House votes and 20 of 30 in the Senate. The bill passed with 36 House votes and 17 in the Senate.

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

The law!

"Can I carry a firearm into an establishment that serves alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises if I have my CCW permit? No. No one (except police officers) may carry a firearm (concealed or not) into any establishment that serves alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises (this includes restaurants). The only exceptions are: 1) you temporarily enter such an establishment for the purpose of reporting an emergency and do not receive, possess or consume an alcoholic drink; 2) you are the licensee or an employee (acting with the licensee's permission) of such an establishment; 3) you are summoned to assist a peace officer who is acting in the official performance of official duties; 4) to enter hotel or motel guest room accommodations or 5) the exhibition or display of a firearm in conjunction with a meeting, show, class or similar event. Active and retired officers carrying under LEOSA may be prohibited from carrying concealed weapons if the establishment is posted, see the LEOSA page for details. (ARS 4-244.29 - 30, 13-3102.C.1 and Public Law 108-277)"

 

[WayneConrad]

As always, Grandpa Shooter comes in with the home run. Here's another reference.

ARS 4-244 (scroll down to 29.)

 

[Sharp669]

So essentially, no concealed carry in pretty much any restaurant? That seems pretty tough on CCW folks. Do you just leave your firearms in the car when you go in? How do AZ folks who CCW handle this?

 

[JesseL]

How do AZ folks who CCW handle this?

Discretely.

 

[El Tejon]

What level of an offense is it in AZ to carry in a restaurant? Penalties?

 

[Bix]

So essentially, no concealed carry in pretty much any restaurant? That seems pretty tough on CCW folks. Do you just leave your firearms in the car when you go in? How do AZ folks who CCW handle this?

I visited AZ recently for a pistol class (carrying on an out-of-state permit). I was trying to figure out how we were going to do dinner and asked the instructor the same question. He advised to secure the weapon in the car before entering the restaurant.

Since the place were wound up dining at boasted over 100 beers on tap (and I was eager to partake in a broad sampling), I left the gun in my room - but was certainly surprised at the seemingly strict regulation.

 

[camslam]

Does anyone know if there are any actions in motion to try to change the law to allow CCW permit holders to carry in such establishments in the State of AZ?

Does anyone have any suggestions other than pushing it with their local state legislator?

 

[WayneConrad]

Does anyone know if there are any actions in motion to try to change the law to allow CCW permit holders to carry in such establishments in the State of AZ?

Does anyone have any suggestions other than pushing it with their local state legislator?

AzCDL got this one to the governor's desk last year. She used the usual "blood in the streets" (or restaurant) argument, and vetoed it. When the time is right, AzCDL will bring this bill back. The best thing you can do is to join AzCDL, join its mailing list, and when you get a legislative alert, send the emails, phone calls, and letters to your representatives so that they get the message. Oh, and work hard to get better representatives elected.

 

[camslam]

Thanks Wayne. I have signed up to receive the AzCDL alerts and will do what I can.

This one needs to be changed!