{"id":14856,"date":"2017-05-31T15:26:53","date_gmt":"2017-05-31T22:26:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/criminal-defense-law\/?page_id=14856"},"modified":"2022-11-29T14:24:04","modified_gmt":"2022-11-29T21:24:04","slug":"unlawful-discharge-firearm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/criminal-defense-law\/blog\/unlawful-discharge-firearm\/","title":{"rendered":"Arizona Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/h2>\n

ARS 13-3107<\/a> simply states that \u201cA person who with criminal negligence discharges a firearm within or into the limits of any municipality.\u201d This offense is categorized as a class 6 felony.<\/p>\n

Meaning of Criminal Negligence<\/h2>\n

Criminal negligence is a key condition of this statute; not knowing that it is against the law to fire a weapon within city limits is not a valid defense in Arizona. As defined by Nolo<\/a>, \u201ccriminal negligence occurs when the defendant should have been aware of the risk.\u201d This means that there was a reasonable amount of responsibility that the person had to understand the consequences of their actions. In ignoring these responsibilities there is a degree of recklessness that the courts consider as criminal.<\/p>\n

Exceptions<\/h2>\n

There are circumstances in which discharging a weapon within city limits is not a criminal act. ARS 13-3107 Section C<\/a> allows weapons to be discharged within Arizona city limits if:<\/p>\n