When Is It Legal to Fire a Gun Within City Limits in Arizona?

Shannon’s law in Arizona means that you could be facing a class-6 felony if you are arrested for unlawful discharge of a firearm in Phoenix. This means that, even if the firearm was fired into the air or not aimed specifically at a person, you could end up with a felony on your record – even if it your first offense and no one was hurt. Shannon’s law is very strict and is often prosecuted very aggressively as a “”dangerous offense”” in Arizona, which comes with very stiff penalties.

However, there are some exceptions written into the law which make firing a gun in city limits legal when you:

• Are on a supervised shooting range
• Are in a designated hunting area or have a special permit
• Are firing blanks
• Are shooting in defense against an animal attack, assuming deadly force was reasonable in the situation
• Are at least a mile away from any occupied structure

Don’t take accusations of a felony offense lightly. If you have been arrested for unlawful discharge of a firearm in Phoenix, contact an experienced Phoenix criminal defense attorney who can protect your rights and explain your options at 888-929-5292. If you’d like further information, request a FREE copy of our informative book, Arizona Criminal Law – What You Must Know.