AZ HB2609

Creates a new criminal prohibition making it illegal to knowingly manufacture, sell, purchase, or possess armor piercing bullets in Arizona.

Defines armor piercing bullets as handgun ammunition with cores made entirely from tungsten alloys, steel, iron, brass, bronze, beryllium copper, or depleted uranium, or fully jacketed bullets larger than 22 caliber designed for handguns with jackets weighing more than 25% of total projectile weight.

Establishes a class 4 felony penalty for violations of the armor piercing bullet prohibition.

Exempts persons authorized or permitted to possess armor piercing bullets under federal law and ammunition types designed for sporting or industrial purposes as defined by federal law.

Excludes shotgun shells and handgun projectiles with soft cores like lead or lead alloys from the armor piercing bullet definition.