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Child Access Prevention

Arizona does not have a child access prevention law that imposes a penalty on someone who fails to secure an unattended firearm and leaves it accessible to an unsupervised minor.

However, Arizona makes a parent or guardian of a person under age 18 jointly and severally liable any fine or civil damages resulting from a minor’s use of a firearm in certain situations.1This rule only applies if the minor knowingly and without the company of a proper adult, carried or possessed a firearm on his or her person, within his or her immediate control, or in or on a means of transportation:

  • In any place that is open to the public;
  • On any street or highway; or
  • On any private property except private property owned or leased by the minor or the minor’s parent, grandparent or guardian.

The parent or guardian is only liable if he or she knew or reasonably should have known that the minor was carrying or possessing the firearm as described above, and he or she made no effort to prevent it.2

Safe Storage

Arizona has no law that requires unattended firearms to be stored in a certain way.

Arizona also does not require a locking device to accompany the sale of a firearm, and no state statutes require firearm owners to affirmatively lock their weapons.

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  1. Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-3111(A), (F). Exceptions exist under certain circumstances if the minor was between the ages of 14 and 17. See Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-3111(B).[]
  2. Id.[]