Open Carry in a Federal Building or Posted No Carry Business - Arizona

Question
I've just recently moved to Arizona from Arkansas, and I'm excited about the opportunity to open carry.  I have my concealed carry permit from Arkansas.

I have been told at two places I can't open carry.

Whole Foods Market - which has a clearly visible sign saying  "No Firearms" or it may be weapons - but its on a moving door.

At the Post Office, where I was told I can't because its a federal building.

I checked out opencarry.org, and went off the fact that they said there was no restrictions on open carry.  Can you help me here?  If you have a reference to a law code, that'd be great.  I'd love to quote it next time I'm approached.  Thanks!

Answer
Jason,

Welcome to Arizona...enjoy the 9 months of great weather we have before the summer heat hits again.

Regarding your questions, Arizona is an open carry state.  You can openly carry a firearm anywhere it is legal for you to carry a firearm.  You might not want to exercise this right for a number of reasons, but more on that in a minute.

Places that you CANNOT legally carry a firearm either openly or concealed, assuming that you have an AZ CCW Permit, are basically the following:

*Federal Office Buildings (including Post Offices)
*State Office Buildings
*Private property that has either a sign prohibiting weapons/firearms or you have been told by the owner or representative of that private property that you cannot bring a firearm on the premises
*Any establishment that sells alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises
*Airports (inside the security checkpoint)
*School grounds
*National parks
*Game preserves
*Some Indian Reservations (you need to check with each tribe)
*Nuclear or Hydro-electric generating stations
*Correctional facilities
*Polling places on election day
*Military bases
*Wherever federal, state or local laws prohibit weapons

This is a pretty complete list but there may be one or two others that I am not thinking of off the top of my head.  I'd be pretty careful about trusting sites like OpenCarry.org or Packing.org.  While they are pretty good, they are not always complete and AZ holds you responsible for knowing the law.  You can get the specifics by reading the Arizona Revised Statutes 13-3102 "Misconduct involving weapons".

As far as open carry as a practice, I honestly don't recommend it for a couple of reasons.  First, it makes you the first target if there is any criminal activity happening, second, people know you are armed and may treat you differently (not necessarily good) and it eliminates any tactical element of surprise if something bad goes down, third, it makes some people very nervous.  I have heard of people calling the cops or reporting you to management wherever you might be which can get you asked to leave.

I am a big fan of 'concealed' carry for the reasons above.

Also, as you are now a resident of Arizona, your Arkansas permit will not allow you to carry concealed. You'll need to get an Arizona permit.  You can check my website at http://www.armedpersonaldefense.com for information on the training we offer or you can check the AZ DPS website for a complete list of training organizations.

Hope this gives you what you were looking for.  Send me a follow up question if you need more info.

Best regards,

Doug