How Does the State of Arizona View Weapons?

(The content below was transcribed from an interview done with Acacia Law. We think you'll find it much easier
and more enjoyable to read this way.)

Interviewer: Today we're going to be talking about weapons offenses and violent crime. We'll start with weapons offenses. What is or can be considered a weapon in Arizona?

Acacia Law Literally anything. More or less any object that could be utilized to cause serious physical harm, injury, or death, qualifies as a deadly weapon under the statute. It's defined as such.

In fact, the only thing that I've seen that has not been identified as a deadly weapon is a bare fist. Anything else can qualify as such, and is treated as such. Now, there is a distinction made particularly in Maricopa County and Pima County. However, throughout the state of Arizona, the statute, in particular applies to hand guns, rifles, and any sort of ballistic weapon.

The reason being is that it's easy to be able to obtain the ability to carry a firearm in this state. On account of that, the laws are strict because guns are so accessible. So many of the policies in this state with respect to misconduct with weapons revolve around guns. They are prioritized as the number one most deadly instrument that is accessible to the average civilian. But, again, almost anything qualifies a deadly weapon.

Almost Any Object Can be Classified As a Weapon

Interviewer: When people are charged with possession what are the most common weapons that they have?

Acacia Law Most of the cases I'm personally involved with revolve around deadly weapons, involve guns and knives and bats and iron rods, clubs, if you will. Those are the three most common. However, anything from screw drivers to kitchen knives and axes have been utilized in cases that I've handled.

Interviewer: Even broken glass or beer bottles or anything that somebody can grab, a plate. How about that, a dish?

Acacia Law Yes absolutely.

Acacia Law You take a beer bottle for example, or any glass bottle and if you break it you just created a fairly sophisticated blade. The reason is that glass is naturally sharp when shattered and it actually creates serrations. You can utilize those serrations not only to stab, but you can also utilize them to slash. So, in effect, that bottle which simply carried beer has become a deadly weapon. I've also seen the same occur with whiskey glasses, which won't break but if they're in your hand they give your hand more velocity. I've had people charged with assault with a deadly weapon by hitting somebody in the face while holding a whiskey shot glass in their hand.

Interviewer: I'm sure rocks are pretty common, right? That's probably something that's used.

Extreme Close Quarters Combat

Acacia Law Sure rocks and bricks, but normally those are not the types of weapons that come into play on the streets. Normally, the types of engagements that I encounter result usually between combatants in what would be considered ECQC. ECQC is “extreme close quarters combat.” What that means is that when you have two individuals that are engaged in a fight using a weapon other than just fists, anything that comes into play is done at very close range.

Interviewer: I see.