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Last updated April 2026 · By Nick Hall, CCW instructor familiar with Arkansas gun laws including constitutional carry and the Concealed Handgun Carry License reciprocity system
Disclaimer: This is an editorial round-up of Arkansas gun laws. We do our best to make sure it’s correct, but do not rely on this as legal advice. If you’re unsure about anything, consult a lawyer.
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Intro
TL;DR: Arkansas is a constitutional carry state with permitless concealed and open carry for most lawful adults, no magazine limits, no assault weapons ban, no red flag law, and a strong Stand Your Ground statute. The Concealed Handgun Carry License is optional but useful for reciprocity with other states.
Arkansas earns a top-tier spot on any serious pro-gun state ranking. Between Act 746 in 2013 and the clarifying Act 777 in 2023, the state codified a permissive framework that treats lawful adults as capable of carrying a handgun without asking permission first. That makes Arkansas one of roughly two dozen constitutional carry states, and one with fewer post-purchase restrictions than most of its neighbors.
That said, “constitutional carry” does not mean “carry anywhere, any time, with anything.” Arkansas still has prohibited places, training requirements for the optional Concealed Handgun Carry License (CHCL), and strong statutory rules around when deadly force can be used. I’ve pulled the statute citations below so you know exactly where the legal line sits.
If you’re moving to Arkansas, visiting from a stricter state, or just trying to understand where your rights end and trouble starts, this page covers the key 2026 rules with official sources at the bottom.
Arkansas Gun Laws: The Highlights
TL;DR: Constitutional carry, no magazine or AWB restrictions, no red flag law, Stand Your Ground codified in 2021, strong state preemption, and an optional CHCL for reciprocity.
- Constitutional Carry State since Act 746 (2013) and clarified by Act 777 (2023). No permit required to carry openly or concealed if you can legally possess a handgun.
- Shall-issue CHCL available through Arkansas State Police for reciprocity and to bypass NICS checks at dealers.
- No state-level restrictions on AR-15s, magazine capacity, or semi-automatic firearms.
- Stand Your Ground statute codified in 2021 under Ark. Code § 5-2-607. No duty to retreat anywhere you have a legal right to be.
- No state background checks for private firearm sales. Federal NICS still applies at licensed dealers.
- No waiting period, no purchase permit, and no firearm registration.
For the official state-level resource, see the Arkansas Department of Public Safety CHCL page.
Key Information at a Glance
Key Information: Arkansas Gun Laws at a Glance (2026)
Fast answers first, with official sources at the bottom.
| Permitless Carry | Yes (Constitutional Carry, Act 777) |
|---|---|
| Open Carry | Legal, 18+ (long guns), 21+ (handguns) |
| Concealed Carry | Legal without permit, 21+ (18+ military) |
| Optional Permit (CHCL) | Shall-issue via Arkansas State Police for reciprocity and NICS-exempt purchases |
| Background Checks | Federal NICS required at licensed dealers. No state requirement for private sales. |
| Purchase Permit | Not required |
| Waiting Period | None |
| Firearm Registration | Not required |
| Magazine Capacity Limits | None |
| Assault Weapon Ban | No |
| Red Flag Law | No |
| Stand Your Ground | Yes (Ark. Code § 5-2-607) |
| Castle Doctrine | Yes |
| State Preemption | Yes (Ark. Code § 14-16-504) |
| NFA Items (Suppressors/SBRs) | Legal with federal ATF approval |
Official Arkansas Resources
Constitutional Carry: How Act 746 and Act 777 Changed Everything
TL;DR: Arkansas has allowed permitless carry since Act 746 of 2013, but the law was ambiguous for a decade. Act 777 of 2023 explicitly clarified that no permit is required to carry concealed in the state. If you can legally possess a handgun under state and federal law, you can carry it.
Arkansas’s path to constitutional carry is a bit messier than Alaska’s or Idaho’s. Act 746 of 2013 repealed the “purpose to employ as a weapon” language from Ark. Code § 5-73-120, which had previously been used to prosecute anyone carrying without a CHCL. After Act 746, the state attorney general issued an opinion saying permitless carry was legal, but some county prosecutors disagreed and continued charging people.
That ambiguity ended in 2023. Act 777 amended Ark. Code § 5-73-301 through § 5-73-321 to explicitly state that a concealed carry permit is not required to carry concealed in Arkansas. Now the law matches practice: if you’re legally allowed to possess a handgun, you can carry it openly or concealed without a state permit.
The CHCL still exists. It’s shall-issue, administered by the Arkansas State Police, and useful for two things: reciprocity with other states that require a permit, and bypassing the federal NICS check when you buy from a licensed dealer.
Who Can Carry a Gun in Arkansas?
TL;DR: 18+ for long guns and open carry, 21+ for concealed handgun carry (or 18+ if military). You must also not be a federally prohibited person.
Arkansas ties minimum age to federal baseline rules. You must be 21 or older to carry a handgun concealed under constitutional carry, or 18 if you’re an active-duty military member or honorably discharged veteran. Long guns can be carried openly at 18.
The usual federal prohibitions apply: felony convictions, domestic violence misdemeanors, drug addiction, dishonorable discharge, and so on under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g). If federal law bars you from possessing a firearm, Arkansas law does too.
Purchasing a Firearm in Arkansas
TL;DR: No state purchase permit, no waiting period, no state background check beyond the federal NICS at licensed dealers. Private sales are unregulated at the state level.
Arkansas keeps firearm purchases simple. Here’s the step-by-step for a first-time buyer:
- Choose a licensed dealer or private seller. Both are legal. For browsing options, see our best gun stores in Arkansas guide.
- Complete ATF Form 4473. Required for dealer sales. Covers identity, address, and federal prohibited-person questions.
- Pass the NICS background check. Federal requirement at dealers. Instant in most cases. Private sales have no state or federal background check requirement in Arkansas.
- Take delivery. No waiting period. Walk out with the firearm the same day.
- Optional: Apply for CHCL. A valid Arkansas CHCL exempts you from the NICS check on future purchases under federal law.
Age rules at federally licensed dealers are 21+ for handguns and 18+ for long guns per 18 U.S.C. § 922(b)(1). Private handgun sales in Arkansas are 18+ under state law, but a private buyer between 18 and 20 can only complete the sale legally because federal age restrictions apply specifically to FFL dealers, not private parties.
Concealed Handgun Carry License (CHCL)
TL;DR: Shall-issue permit administered by Arkansas State Police. Requires an 8-hour training course, fingerprints, background check, and about $141 in fees for new applicants. Valid 5 years. Useful for reciprocity and NICS bypass at dealers.
Why bother with a CHCL if Arkansas doesn’t require one? Two reasons. First, reciprocity — the CHCL is recognized in 35+ other states, meaning you can travel with your handgun legally in most of the country. Second, a valid Arkansas CHCL exempts you from the NICS check at a federally licensed dealer under 18 U.S.C. § 922(t)(3). Saves time at the gun counter.
To apply, you need to complete a state-approved 8-hour training course that includes classroom instruction on Arkansas gun law and live-fire qualification. Fees as of 2026 run about $141.25 for a new five-year license (including the online application fee, background check, and livescan fingerprints). Applicants 65 or older pay a reduced fee of around $65.
Arkansas also offers an Enhanced CHCL (ECHCL) with an additional 4 hours of training beyond the standard course. The enhanced license allows you to carry in certain public buildings and on some college campuses where the standard CHCL does not apply. Details are on the Arkansas DPS enhanced CHCL PDF.
State Preemption
TL;DR: Strong state preemption under Ark. Code § 14-16-504. Cities and counties cannot pass their own firearm ordinances that go beyond state law.
Arkansas has a state preemption statute that reserves firearm regulation to the state legislature. Little Rock, Fayetteville, and other local governments cannot enact their own gun control measures. The rules don’t change when you cross city limits.
Local governments retain some narrow authority, mainly around discharging firearms within city limits for safety reasons and regulating firearms on publicly owned property they control, but they can’t create separate licensing schemes, magazine limits, or registration requirements.
Federal Law Still Sets the Ceiling
TL;DR: Arkansas’s permissive laws operate inside a federal framework. NFA rules, federal prohibited-person lists, and gun-free federal buildings apply regardless of state law.
This is the most common point of confusion. Arkansas cannot override federal firearm law. You still cannot possess a firearm if you’re federally prohibited (felony, DV misdemeanor, etc.). You still cannot carry in federal buildings under 18 U.S.C. § 930. NFA items still require ATF approval through the tax stamp process. Post offices, courthouses, and federal installations are federally controlled space.
The ATF’s Arkansas firearms statutes and codes guide lists the full federal overlay.
Reciprocity: Out-of-State Permits
TL;DR: Arkansas honors valid concealed carry permits from every other state. Its own CHCL is recognized in 35+ states. Non-residents can apply for an Arkansas CHCL.
Arkansas is generous on reciprocity in both directions. Under Ark. Code § 5-73-321, the state recognizes any valid concealed carry permit from any other state for the purpose of carrying a concealed handgun in Arkansas. Even if your home state’s permit is less stringent than Arkansas’s, it’s honored here.
Outgoing reciprocity is strong too. The Arkansas CHCL is recognized in most permissive and shall-issue states. You’ll run into trouble only in the handful of states that do not recognize most out-of-state permits.
States That Recognize the Arkansas CHCL
| Full Reciprocity (35+) | NOT Recognized In |
| Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming | California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, Washington D.C. |
Reciprocity lists change. Always verify the current state-by-state recognition status before you travel with a firearm.
Where You Can’t Carry
TL;DR: Schools, courthouses, government meetings, bars, polling places, and federal buildings are off-limits under Ark. Code § 5-73-306. Private property owners can also post “no firearms” signs that carry legal weight.
Under Ark. Code § 5-73-306, you cannot carry a concealed handgun in these locations, even with a CHCL:
- K-12 schools and school buses (with limited statutory exceptions for parking lots)
- College and university campuses (Enhanced CHCL holders get some additional access)
- Courthouses and courtrooms
- Meetings of governmental entities
- Bars and liquor-licensed establishments where consumption is the primary purpose
- Polling places
- Athletic events unless participating
- Correctional facilities and detention centers
- Any place prohibited by federal law (post offices, federal buildings, national parks with additional restrictions)
Private property owners can prohibit firearms on their premises by posting conspicuous signage. Ignoring that signage is a trespass issue. Carrying while intoxicated is also independently prohibited and can trigger misconduct-involving-weapons charges.
Arkansas Self-Defense Laws: Stand Your Ground and Castle Doctrine
TL;DR: Arkansas codified Stand Your Ground in 2021 under Ark. Code § 5-2-607. No duty to retreat anywhere you have a legal right to be. Strong Castle Doctrine extending to your home, vehicle, and place of business.
Before 2021, Arkansas law required you to retreat before using deadly force, with the main exception being in your own home. Senate Bill 24 (signed into law and codified as updates to Ark. Code § 5-2-607) changed that. Now, if you are somewhere you have a legal right to be, you have no duty to retreat before defending yourself against a reasonable fear of imminent death or serious physical injury.
The Castle Doctrine extends similar protection inside your home, occupied vehicle, or workplace. The legal presumption is that an unlawful intruder poses a deadly threat, which shifts the burden and provides civil and criminal immunity in justified self-defense situations.
“Stand your ground” does not mean “shoot anyone you feel like.” You still need a reasonable fear of imminent serious harm, and you cannot be the aggressor or engaged in illegal activity. Misuse of the doctrine is still prosecuted as assault, manslaughter, or murder.
Magazine Capacity and Assault Weapons
TL;DR: No state magazine capacity limits. No assault weapons ban. No state registration or feature-test restrictions on rifles, shotguns, or pistols.
Arkansas imposes zero state-level restrictions on magazine capacity or “assault weapon” features. Standard-capacity 30-round AR-15 magazines are legal. 17-round Glock magazines are legal. 50-round drum magazines are legal. The 1994 federal Assault Weapons Ban expired in 2004 and has never been re-imposed federally, and Arkansas has never passed a state version.
That makes Arkansas one of the few states where you can legally own a modern sporting rifle in its factory configuration without worrying about fixed-magazine conversions, featureless builds, or grandfather registration.
NFA Items: Suppressors, SBRs, and Machine Guns
TL;DR: All NFA items (suppressors, SBRs, SBSs, machine guns, AOWs) are legal in Arkansas with proper federal ATF approval. No additional state prohibitions or state-level tax stamps.
Arkansas does not add any state-level restrictions on top of federal NFA rules. Suppressors are legal for ownership and hunting. Short-barreled rifles and shotguns are legal. Lawfully registered machine guns (pre-1986 for civilians) are legal. You still need to go through the federal ATF Form 4 process, pay the $200 tax stamp, and wait for approval before taking possession.
Machine gun conversion devices (including Glock switches and auto sears made after 1986 for civilian use) are federally prohibited and therefore illegal in Arkansas too. That’s a federal issue, not state law.
Red Flag Laws
TL;DR: Arkansas has no red flag law. The state legislature has rejected proposed Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) bills multiple times.
Unlike California, New York, and roughly 20 other states, Arkansas has not passed an Extreme Risk Protection Order statute. Law enforcement and family members cannot petition a court to temporarily remove firearms from someone perceived as a danger to themselves or others outside the standard criminal process and existing involuntary commitment procedures.
The only way firearms can be legally removed from an Arkansan is through criminal conviction triggering a federal prohibited-person designation, a domestic-violence protective order, an involuntary mental health commitment, or voluntary surrender.
Recent Changes (2025-2026)
TL;DR: Act 777 of 2023 remains the most significant recent change, clarifying constitutional carry. The 2025 legislative session saw minor administrative updates to CHCL processing and the enhanced license requirements.
The biggest recent change is Act 777 (2023), which removed the last bits of legal ambiguity around permitless carry. A handful of Arkansas prosecutors had continued charging people with carrying without a permit after Act 746 (2013), relying on contradictory statute language. Act 777 closed that door.
The 2025 session didn’t introduce major changes to the carry or purchase framework. Administrative updates to the CHCL application process and enhanced license training standards went into effect January 1, 2025. If you’re applying or renewing, check the official online portal for current fees and document requirements.
Our Take
TL;DR: Arkansas is one of the most gun-friendly states in the country. Constitutional carry, no magazine limits, no AWB, no red flag law, Stand Your Ground, strong preemption. If you’re a lawful gun owner, this is a good place to be.
For practical everyday purposes, Arkansas treats gun ownership the way most of us think it should be treated: as a right exercised by responsible adults. You don’t need permission to carry. You don’t need to jump through hoops to buy. You don’t need to worry about whether a city ordinance contradicts state law. And if you have to defend yourself, the statute is on your side.
The one friction point is the prohibited-places list, which is more restrictive than you might guess from the overall permissive framework. Schools, courthouses, and liquor-licensed bars are the main ones. If you’re going to carry regularly in Arkansas, learn Ark. Code § 5-73-306 by heart. Getting a CHCL or Enhanced CHCL is also worth the time investment if you travel or want any-state reciprocity.
For current state resources, bookmark the Arkansas DPS CHCL page and the Arkansas Legislature statute search.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Arkansas a constitutional carry state?
Yes. Arkansas has been a constitutional carry state since Act 746 of 2013, and Act 777 of 2023 clarified the law to remove all remaining ambiguity. Any adult who can legally possess a handgun under state and federal law can carry openly or concealed without a permit. The optional Concealed Handgun Carry License (CHCL) is still issued by the Arkansas State Police for reciprocity purposes.
What age do you have to be to carry a gun in Arkansas?
You must be 21 to carry a handgun concealed under constitutional carry (or 18 if you are active-duty military or an honorably discharged veteran). Long guns can be carried openly at 18. Federal law under 18 U.S.C. § 922(b)(1) also sets the minimum age at 21 for handgun purchases from licensed dealers and 18 for long guns.
Does Arkansas have a magazine capacity limit?
No. Arkansas has no state-level magazine capacity limit. Standard 30-round AR-15 magazines, 17-round Glock magazines, and 50-round drums are all legal for possession and use. The state has never passed an assault weapons ban or feature-based restriction on semi-automatic firearms.
Is open carry legal in Arkansas?
Yes. Arkansas law allows open carry of handguns by any adult who can legally possess a firearm. No permit is required. Long guns can also be carried openly at age 18 or older. The usual prohibited-places restrictions under Ark. Code § 5-73-306 still apply — you can't openly carry in schools, courthouses, bars, polling places, or other listed locations.
What is the Arkansas Concealed Handgun Carry License (CHCL) and do I need one?
The CHCL is a shall-issue concealed handgun license administered by the Arkansas State Police. It is not required to carry concealed in Arkansas after Act 777, but it provides reciprocity in 35+ other states and exempts you from the federal NICS background check when purchasing from a licensed dealer. Training is an 8-hour state-approved course with live-fire qualification, and fees run about $141.25 for a new five-year license.
Does Arkansas have a red flag law?
No. Arkansas does not have an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) or red flag law. Proposed red flag legislation has been rejected by the state legislature multiple times. Firearms can only be removed through criminal conviction, a domestic-violence protective order, involuntary mental health commitment, or voluntary surrender.
Does Arkansas have Stand Your Ground?
Yes. Arkansas codified Stand Your Ground in 2021 under Ark. Code § 5-2-607. You have no duty to retreat anywhere you have a legal right to be before using reasonable force, including deadly force, in self-defense against an imminent threat of death or serious physical injury. The Castle Doctrine also applies in your home, vehicle, and place of business.
Are suppressors and NFA items legal in Arkansas?
Yes. All NFA items including suppressors, short-barreled rifles (SBRs), short-barreled shotguns (SBSs), and registered machine guns are legal in Arkansas with proper federal ATF approval through the Form 4 tax-stamp process. Arkansas imposes no additional state-level restrictions beyond federal NFA law. Post-1986 machine gun conversion devices (Glock switches, auto sears for civilian use) remain federally prohibited.
Explore More States
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