Arkansas Concealed Carry Reciprocity Map & Gun Laws

Yes. Stun guns and Tasers are legal to purchase and possess without a license. The minimum age to purchase is 19 years old.

Shall issue.

[Ark. Code § 5-7-111]

Yes, without a permit/license. Any person who is at least 18 years old and legally entitled to possess a firearm can open carry.

[Ark. Code § 5-7-120(a)]

21.

No.

Yes. However, only an individual with an Enhanced CHCL can carry in buildings that house state offices within state parks (carry is not allowed in buildings in National Parks). See the National Parks webpage for links to each Park in Arkansas.

[Park Directive 3070]

Yes, when upon a journey (outside of a person's home or property), with or without a license to carry a concealed handgun, except in prohibited places, and provided there is no unlawful intent to employ it as a weapon against a person.​​​​​​

[Ark. Code § 5-73-120]

Yes.

No. Arkansas does not have a red flag law.

Yes/No. Yes for concealed carry permit holders. No for individuals carrying under permitless carry.

Concealed carry permit holders have a duty to inform a police officer that they are carrying a concealed firearm immediately upon demand in Arkansas. In addition, when an Arkansas CHCL holder that is in possession of a firearm is asked for identification by any law enforcement officer, the licensee must present his or her CHCL and must also notify the officer that he or she has a handgun in his or her possession.

[Ark. Code § 5-73-315(b)(2) and Admin. Rules Dept. of Ark. State Police Rule 3.2]

Yes, but only to members of the military stationed in Arkansas and their spouses.

[Ark. Code § 5-7-309]

Not addressed in state statutes.

As a responsibly armed American, regardless of the laws in your state, it is unwise to carry while under the influence of any substance that could impair your judgement, slow your reaction times or impact your decision-making abilities. Any decision you make while carrying a firearm could have life-altering consequences.

Yes. No license to carry a concealed handgun authorizes any person to carry a concealed handgun into any place that is posted, "carrying a handgun is prohibited."

A written notice is not required for a private home and any licensee entering a private home must notify the occupant that the licensee is carrying a concealed handgun.

[Ark. Code § 5-73-306(18)]

No. Private firearms transfers are not subject to a background check requirement, although federal and state purchaser prohibitions, including age restrictions, still apply. It is recommended that you retain any sales receipts to prove ownership of the gun.

No.

18 years old.

A person commits the offense of furnishing a deadly weapon to a minor if he or she sells, barters, leases, gives, rents or otherwise furnishes a firearm or other deadly weapon to a minor without the consent of a parent, guardian or other person responsible for general supervision of the minor's welfare.

[§ 5-73-109(a)]

No.

An applicant must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident;
• Be at least 21 years of age or 18 years of age if a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, honorably discharged or National Guard;
• Have been a resident of Arkansas for the last 90 days, or be an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces (or the spouse) who submits documentation of his or her active duty status;
• Not suffer from a mental or physical infirmity which prevents the safe handling of a handgun and not have threatened or attempted suicide;
• Not have been convicted of a felony, without having been pardoned and had firearms possession rights restored, or have had the record sealed or expunged for a sentence prior to March 13, 1995, or have had an offense which was dismissed and sealed or expunged under § 16-93-301 et seq. or § 16-98-303(g);
• Not be subject to any federal, state or local law which makes it unlawful to receive, possess or transport any firearm, and have had his or her background check successfully completed through the Department of Arkansas State Police and the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System;
• Not chronically or habitually abuse controlled substances or alcoholic beverage to the extent that his or her normal faculties are impaired (further detailed in §§ 5-73-309(7)(B) and (8)(B);
• Have read the Arkansas concealed carry law;
• Not have been adjudicated mentally incompetent;
• Not have been voluntarily or involuntarily committed to a mental institution or mental health treatment facility (veterans who have voluntarily sought mental health treatment at a mental health institution or mental health treatment facility may obtain a license under this subchapter if a circuit court grants his or her petition under § 5-73-327);
• Not be a fugitive from justice or does not have an active warrant for his or her arrest;
• Have completed an approved firearms training class;
• Not have been convicted of the offense of carrying a weapon within the last 5 years; 
• Sign a statement of allegiance to the United States and Arkansas Constitutions; and
• Meet federal law requirements.

*Consult with an attorney if you have any questions about your eligibility. If you don’t have an attorney, you can find one by contacting the State Bar of Arkansas.

120 days

Yes, but only for members of the military permanently stationed in Arkansas and their spouses. The process is the same as for residents.

You can submit a request for a new license online. The form must be notarized before submittal to the Arkansas State Police.

New license costs for anyone age 64 or younger

• Online applications $91.90
• Paper applications $88.25

As of July 28, 2021, veterans and active-duty military no longer have to pay new or renewal license fees.

New license costs for anyone age 66 or older

• Online applications $66.15
• Paper applications $63.25

These costs include the online application and background check fee. Applicants are responsible for obtaining a complete, classifiable set of fingerprints and that cost is not included. As of July 28, 2021, veterans and active-duty military no longer have to pay license fees.

Renewal fees

• Online $52.50
• Paper $50.00

Includes application and background check fees. 

Late Renewals - expired less than six months require an additional $15 late fee.

Licenses expired over six months require the applicant to begin the application process with a new application.

Transfer from another state - $73.25, includes background check fee.

Arkansas State Police Concealed Handgun Carry Licensing Information

Enhanced Concealed Handgun Carry License (E-CHCL)

The Enhanced CHCL requires approximately 8 hours of additional classroom and gun-range training. The training course includes topics such as Arkansas firearms law, the rights and responsibilities of an Enhanced License holder, what to do in an active shooting, and all locations where the carry of concealed firearms remains prohibited. The applicant must also pass a shooting competency test. E-CHCL holders who complete this training course are given a “concealed carry endorsement” by the State Police on their licenses indicating that they may carry on public college and university campuses, as well as certain other "sensitive places," including:

• Publicly owned buildings and facilities;
• State Capitol grounds and the State Capitol building;
• Any meeting place of the governing body of any governmental entity;
• Any meeting place of the General Assembly or a committee of the General Assembly;
• Any state office;
• Athletic events;
• A portion of an establishment licensed to dispense alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises;
• A portion of an establishment where beer or light wine is consumed on the premises;
• Inside the passenger terminal of an airport;
• Any church or other place of worship;
• Any place where a parade or demonstration requiring a permit is being held, even when the licensee is a participant in the parade or demonstration; and
• The buildings and grounds of a public university/college or community college.

For holders of valid CHCLs, there is a form to complete and an additional fee of $15 to cover the license replacement.

Concealed Handgun Carry License Holders (CHCL)

• • Any public pre-kindergarten, K-12 school or public daycare facility (except permittees may possess and store firearms in their vehicles in parking lots), school bus or school bus stop;

[Ark. Code Ann. §§ 5-73-119]

• • Posted firearm-sensitive areas at the Arkansas State Hospital, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences;
  • Any municipally owned or maintained park or recreational property that contains a:
    • Football, baseball, soccer, or other sports field where an athletic event or practice is occurring at the time;
    • Municipally owned or maintained building; or
    • Leased area to be used for a special event.

[Ark. Code Ann. §§ 5-73-122]

• • Any school, college, community college, or university campus building or event;
  • Any University of Arkansas athletic events and venues, the Jean Tyson Child Development Center and Ella’s;
  • Any police, sheriff or Arkansas State Police or Highway Police office;
  • Any buildings of the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department, or onto grounds adjacent to such buildings (except rest areas, weigh stations and public parking areas);
  • Any residential treatment facilities owned or operated by the division of Youth Services of the Department of Human Services;
  • Any detention facility, prison or jail;
  • Any courthouse, courthouse annex, or other building owned, leased, or regularly used by a county for conducting court proceedings or housing a county office (with some exceptions, including employees of the county or building, countywide elected officials, to name a few);
  • Any courtroom (except for the judge);
  • Any meeting place of “the governing body of any governmental entity”;
  • Any meeting of the General Assembly or a committee of the General Assembly;
  • Any state office;
  • Any athletic event not related to firearms;
  • Any portion of an establishment, except a restaurant, licensed to dispense alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises or where beer or light wine is consumed on the premises;
  • Inside the passenger terminal of any airport (except for secured areas), unless the handgun is encased for shipment by lawful transportation;
  • Any church or other place of worship, unless the head of the place of worship has given permission;
  • Participating in a parade or demonstration for which a permit is required;
  • Any place at the discretion of the person or entity exercising control over the physical location of the place by placing at each entrance to the place a written notice clearly readable at a distance of not less than 10' that “carrying a handgun is prohibited”.
  • At a private residence without having first advised the occupants that the license holder is carrying a concealed weapon and received permission to carry the handgun; and
  • Any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law or state law or regulation.

• [Ark. Code Ann. §§ 5-73-306]

• See Can Carry Section for locations where E-CHCL holders may carry.

Any knife is legal as long as you don’t intend to use it as a weapon against a person.

[Ark. Code § 5-73-120]

Yes, provided the handgun otherwise lawfully possessed and is for personal protection and is not employed for hunting or is a legal killing device under Commission regulations.

[Ark. Fish & Game Commission Regs 05.19] 

Yes. It is unlawful to willfully obstruct or impede the participation of any individual in the lawful activity of hunting, fishing or trapping. Provided that nothing in this regulation shall prohibit a landowner or lessee from exercising his lawful right to prohibit hunting, fishing or trapping on his land or from exercising any other legal right.

[Ark. F&G Commission Regs 05.37]