Chapter 9.20
WEAPONS

Sections:

9.20.010    Purpose.

9.20.020    Definitions.

9.20.030    Firearms.

9.20.040    Weapons in public establishment or event.

9.20.010 Purpose.

The purpose of this chapter is to regulate, as allowed by state law, the discharge of firearms and the carrying of firearms upon entering a public establishment or public event within the Town of Pinetop-Lakeside in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of visitors and residents of the Town. (Ord. 23-457 § 1; Res. 23-1655 (Exh. A))

9.20.020 Definitions.

A.    "Discharge" means to expel a projectile from a firearm.

B.    "Firearm" means any loaded or unloaded handgun, pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun, or other weapon which will expel, is designed to expel, or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive. "Firearm" does not include a firearm in permanently inoperable condition.

C.    "Deadly weapon" means anything that is designated for lethal use. The term includes a firearm. (Ord. 23-457 § 1; Res. 23-1655 (Exh. A))

9.20.030 Firearms.

A.    No person shall negligently discharge any firearm within the Town limits.

B.    This section does not apply if the firearm is discharged:

1.    As allowed pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-401 et seq.

2.    On a properly supervised range, as defined by A.R.S. § 13-3107.

3.    During an open season established by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission for the lawful taking of wildlife, a person may discharge a firearm within one-quarter (1/4) mile of an occupied structure with the consent of the owner or occupant of the structure. For the purposes of this paragraph:

a.    "Occupied structure" means any building in which, at the time of the firearm’s discharge, a reasonable person from the location where a firearm is discharged would expect a person to be present.

b.    "Take" has the same meaning prescribed in A.R.S. § 17-101.

4.    For the control of nuisance wildlife by permit from the Arizona Game and Fish Department or the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

5.    By special permit of the Chief of Police of the Town.

6.    As required by an animal control officer in the performance of duties as specified in A.R.S. § 9-499.04.

7.    Using blanks.

8.    More than one (1) mile from any occupied structure as defined in A.R.S. § 13-3101.

9.    In self-defense or defense of another person against an animal attack if a reasonable person would believe that deadly physical force against the animal is immediately necessary and reasonable under the circumstances to protect oneself or the other person.

C.    Violating the provisions of this section is a class 1 misdemeanor and punishable in accordance with Chapter 1.20.

State law reference – Unlawful discharge of firearms; exemptions; classification; definitions, A.R.S. § 13-3107. (Ord. 23-457 § 1; Res. 23-1655 (Exh. A))

9.20.040 Weapons in public establishment or event.

A.    Any person other than a peace officer on duty carrying a firearm, upon entering any public establishment or attending a public event and carrying a deadly weapon on his person, may be required by the operator of the establishment or the sponsor of the event to remove the weapon and place it in the custody of the operator of the establishment or the sponsor of the event for temporary and secure storage.

B.    Temporary and secure storage of the weapons pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-3102.01:

1.    If an operator of a public establishment or a sponsor of a public event requests that a person carrying a deadly weapon remove the weapon, the operator or sponsor shall provide temporary and secure storage. The storage shall be readily accessible on entry into the establishment or event and allow for the immediate retrieval of the weapon on exit from the establishment or event.

2.    In accordance with A.R.S. § 13-3102.01, if the holder of a license issued pursuant to Title 4 of the Arizona Revised Statutes posts a notice that prohibits possession of weapons on the licensed premises of a public establishment or public event, the licensee does not have to provide temporary storage.

3.    The operator of the establishment or the sponsor of the event or the employee of the operator or sponsor or the agent of the sponsor, including a public entity or public employee, is not liable for acts or omissions pursuant to this section unless the operator, sponsor, employee, or agent intended to cause injury or was grossly negligent.

4.    For the purposes of this section, "public establishment" and "public event" have the same meanings prescribed in A.R.S. § 13-3102.

C.    Failure to comply with the requirement of an operator of a public establishment or sponsor of a public event to remove a weapon is a class 1 misdemeanor in accordance with Chapter 1.20.

State law reference – Misconduct involving weapons; defenses; classification; definitions, A.R.S. § 13-3102(A)(10). Storage of deadly weapons; definitions, A.R.S. §§ 13-3102.01(A) through (D). (Ord. 23-457 § 1; Res. 23-1655 (Exh. A))