As people across the country mourn the mass shootings that ravaged El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, questions about how to prevent the next, seemingly inevitable massacre reemerge.
While lawmakers, lobbyists and the general public argue about what should be done, police officers and business owners in Arizona are tasked with remaining vigilant in a state where nearly anyone over the age of 21 can carry a firearm — concealed or not — without a special permit or license if they're not a convicted felon.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety still issues concealed-weapons permits despite law changes from nearly a decade ago no longer requiring them.
Bart Graves, a DPS spokesman, said the permits remain useful even though they're no longer mandatory.
"Arizona is a permit-less state but a Concealed Weapons Permit allows you to carry in some other states," Graves said, in a written statement. "It also helps when it comes to purchasing a gun through a licensed dealer because a background check has already been completed."