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HB2421 - 572R - I Ver
REFERENCE TITLE:
assault weapons; magazines; prohibition; registration
State of Arizona
House of Representatives
Fifty-seventh Legislature
Second Regular Session
2026
HB 2421
Introduced by
Representative
M�rquez
AN
ACT
amending title 13, chapter 31, Arizona
Revised Statutes, by adding section 13-3123; relating to firearms.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 13, chapter 31, Arizona
Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 13-3123, to read:
START_STATUTE
13-3123.
Unlawful manufacture, import, possession, purchase, sale or
transfer of assault weapons or large capacity magazines; applicability;
registration; civil liability; fees; classification; definitions
A. A person, corporation or other
entity may not manufacture, import, possess, purchase, sell or transfer any
assault weapon or large capacity magazine.
b. SubSection A of this section does
not apply to any of the following:
1. A government officer, agent or
employee, a member of the armed forces of the United States or a peace officer
to the extent that the person is otherwise authorized to acquire or possess an
assault weapon or large capacity magazine, or both, and does so while acting
within the scope of the person's duties.
2. The manufacture of an assault
weapon or large capacity ammunition feeding device by a firearms manufacturer
for the purpose of sale to any branch of the armed forces of the United States
or to a law enforcement agency in this State for use by that branch or agency
or the branch's or agency's employees if the manufacturer is properly licensed
under federal, state and local laws.
3. The sale or transfer of an assault
weapon or large capacity ammunition feeding device by a dealer that is properly
licensed under federal, state and local laws to any branch of the armed forces
of the United States or to a law enforcement agency in this State for use by
that branch or agency or the branch's or agency's employees for law enforcement
purposes.
c. A person who was legally in
possession of an assault weapon or large capacity magazine on the effective
date of this section and who does any of the following within ninety days after
the effective date of this section is not subject to prosecution:
1. Removes the assault weapon or
large capacity magazine from this State.
2. Renders the assault weapon
permanently inoperable.
3. Surrenders the assault weapon or
large capacity magazine to the appropriate law enforcement agency for
destruction.
4. If eligible, registers the assault
weapon as provided in subsection d of this section.
d. To register an assault weapon that
a person legally possessed before the effective date of this section, the
person must comply with the following requirements:
1. Submit
to a background check conducted by the appropriate law enforcement agency to
confirm that the person is not a prohibited purchaser under 18 United States
code section 922 or a prohibited possessor.
2. Unless the person is currently
prohibited by law from possessing a firearm, immediately register the assault
weapon with the appropriate law enforcement agency.
3. Safely and securely store the
assault weapon pursuant to rules adopted by the department of public safety.
4. Annually renew the registration,
subject to completing a new background check.
5. Possess the assault weapon only:
(
a
) On property
that the person owns or immediately controls.
(
b
) While on
the premises of a licensed gunsmith for the purpose of lawful repair.
(
c
) While
engaged in the legal use of the assault weapon at a duly licensed firing range.
(
d
) While
traveling to or from locations listed in this paragraph if the assault weapon
is stored unloaded in a locked container during transport.� For the purposes of
this subdivision, locked container does not include the utility compartment, glove
compartment or trunk of a motor vehicle.
6. Report the loss or theft of a
registered assault weapon to the appropriate law enforcement agency within
forty-eight hours after the loss or theft is discovered or should have
been discovered.
e. If a registered assault weapon is
used in the commission of a crime, the registered owner is civilly liable for
any damages resulting from that crime. The liability imposed by this subsection
does not apply if the assault weapon was stolen and the registered owner
reported the theft of the firearm to a law enforcement agency as prescribed in
subsection D, paragraph 6 of this section.
f. Registered assault weapons may not
be purchased, sold or transferred, except that a registered assault weapon may
be transferred to a licensed gunsmith for the purpose of lawful repair or to an
appropriate law enforcement agency for the purpose of surrendering the assault
weapon for destruction.� An assault weapon that is possessed in violation of
this section may be destroyed unless a court or a county or city attorney finds
or the United States department of justice declares that preserving the assault
weapon is in the interests of justice.
g. A person who acquires an assault
weapon by inheritance, bequest or succession shall do one of the following
within ninety days after acquiring title:
1. Modify the assault weapon to
render the weapon permanently inoperable.
2. Surrender the assault weapon to
the department of public safety for destruction.
3. Transfer the assault weapon to a
firearms dealer who is properly licensed under federal, state and local laws.
h. The registered owner of an assault
weapon may not purchase additional assault weapons.
I. A law enforcement agency may
charge a fee determined by the director of the department of public safety for
each registration and registration renewal pursuant to subsections C and D of
this section.
J. A
person who violates this section is guilty of:
1. A
class 1 misdemeanor for a first violation that involves only the possession of
an assault weapon or large capacity magazine and, notwithstanding section 13-802,
the person shall pay a fine of at least $750.
2. A
class 5 felony For a second or subsequent violation that involves only the
possession of an assault weapon or large capacity magazine and, notwithstanding
section 13-801, the person shall pay a fine of at least $2,500.
3. A class 4 felony for any other
violation of this section and, notwithstanding section 13-801, the person
shall pay a fine of at least $5,000.
K. For the purposes of this section:
1. "Assault weapon":
(
a
) Means a
semiautomatic rifle that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine.
(
b
) Means a
semiautomatic pistol or any semiautomatic centerfire rifle with a fixed
magazine that has the capacity to accept more than ten rounds of ammunition.
(
c
) Means a
semiautomatic pistol that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and
that has at least one of the following characteristics:
(
i
) Any feature
capable of functioning as a protruding grip that can be held by the nontrigger
hand.
(
ii
) A folding,
telescoping or thumbhole stock.
(
iii
) A shroud
that is attached to the barrel, or that partially or completely encircles the
barrel, and that allows the bearer to hold the firearm with the nontrigger hand
without being burned, excluding a slide that encloses the barrel.
(
iv
) The
capacity to accept a detachable magazine at any location outside of the pistol
grip.
(
d
) Means a
Semiautomatic shotgun that has one or more of the following:
(
i
) A pistol
grip or thumbhole stock.
(
ii
) Any
feature capable of functioning as a protruding grip that can be held by the
nontrigger hand.
(
iii
) A folding
or telescoping stock.
(
iv
) A fixed
magazine capacity that carries more than five rounds.
(
v
) An ability
to accept a detachable magazine.
(
e
) Means a
Shotgun with a revolving cylinder.
(
f
) Includes a
Conversion kit, part or combination of parts, from which an assault weapon can
be assembled if those parts are in the possession or under the control of the
same person.
(
g
) does not
include any firearm that has been made permanently inoperable.
2. "Fixed magazine" means
an ammunition feeding device contained in, or permanently attached to, a
firearm in such a manner that the device cannot be removed without disassembly
of the firearm action.
3. "Large capacity
magazine":
(
a
) Means any
ammunition feeding device with the capacity to accept more than ten rounds.
(
b
) Does not
include any of the following:
(
i
) A feeding
device that has been permanently altered so that it cannot accommodate more
than ten rounds.
(
ii
) A
twenty-two caliber tube ammunition feeding device.
(
iii
) A tubular
magazine that is contained in a lever action firearm.
END_STATUTE