Gun Laws Arkansas

Overview: As of 2025, Arkansas maintains permissive gun laws, allowing both open and concealed carry without a permit. Individuals aged 18 and older can openly carry firearms, while concealed carry is permitted without a license, though the state offers concealed handgun carry licenses (CHCL) for reciprocity with other states. Firearms are prohibited in specific locations, including schools, government buildings, and establishments serving alcohol. Private firearm sales do not require background checks or registration, and there are no magazine capacity restrictions.

Arkansas Gun Laws
Carry Information
Legal & Resources

Question	Answer
Does Arkansas have an Assault Weapons Ban?	🚫 No. Arkansas does not ban assault weapons or high-capacity magazines.
Are background checks required for private gun sales?	🚫 No. Private transfers are exempt from background checks.
Are background checks required through FFL dealers?	Yes. Federal law (NICS) applies to dealer sales.
Is Arkansas a Stand Your Ground state?	✅ Yes. Arkansas has both Stand Your Ground and Castle Doctrine protections.
What kind of restrictions does Arkansas have?	ℹ️ No state magazine capacity limits ℹ️ Certain prohibited persons (e.g., felons) barred from ownership
Does Arkansas have any gun storage laws?	🚫 No. There is no state‑mandated safe‑storage requirement.
Can you buy firearms in bulk in Arkansas?	✅ Yes. No state restriction on bulk purchases. (However FFL store policy may limit the amount, always check first)
Does Arkansas have a red flag law?	🚫 No. Arkansas has no extreme risk protective order law.
Age to purchase firearms?	ℹ️ Rifles/Shotguns: 18+ ℹ️ Handguns: 21+
Do I have to register my guns in Arkansas?	🚫 No. Firearm registration is not required.
Do I need a permit to purchase a handgun?	🚫 No. No permit required to buy.
Does Alabama have a waiting period for firearms?	🚫 No. Arkansas does not impose a waiting period.

Does Arkansas have an Assault Weapons Ban?

🚫 No. Arkansas does not ban assault weapons or high-capacity magazines.

Are background checks required for private gun sales?

🚫 No. Private transfers are exempt from background checks.

Are background checks required through FFL dealers?

Yes. Federal law (NICS) applies to dealer sales.

Is Arkansas a Stand Your Ground state?

✅ Yes. Arkansas has both Stand Your Ground and Castle Doctrine protections.

What kind of restrictions does Arkansas have?

ℹ️ No state magazine capacity limits
ℹ️ Certain prohibited persons (e.g., felons) barred from ownership

Does Arkansas have any gun storage laws?

🚫 No. There is no state‑mandated safe‑storage requirement.

Can you buy firearms in bulk in Arkansas?

✅ Yes. No state restriction on bulk purchases. (However FFL store policy may limit the amount, always check first)

Does Arkansas have a red flag law?

🚫 No. Arkansas has no extreme risk protective order law.

Age to purchase firearms?

ℹ️ Rifles/Shotguns: 18+
ℹ️ Handguns: 21+

Do I have to register my guns in Arkansas?

🚫 No. Firearm registration is not required.

Do I need a permit to purchase a handgun?

🚫 No. No permit required to buy.

Does Alabama have a waiting period for firearms?

🚫 No. Arkansas does not impose a waiting period.

Question	Answer
Does Arkansas allow Open Carry?	✅ Legal without a permit for residents 18 and older; open carry allowed.
Does Alabama allow Concealed Carry?	✅ Permitless carry allowed for residents 21+, or 18–20 with valid military-issued permit.
Non‑Lethal Weapons?	✅ Legal to carry pepper spray and stun guns.
Places allowed to carry?	✅ Most public areas, vehicles, and private property (with permission).
Places not allowed to carry?	🚫 Schools, courthouses, polling places, and posted “no-firearms” zones.
States honored?	✅ Arkansas honors all valid out-of-state concealed carry permits.
States reciprocate?	✅ Arkansas's permit is recognized in these states: Alabama Arizona Florida Georgia Idaho Indiana Louisiana Michigan Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska North Carolina Ohio Oklahoma Pennsylvania South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming ⚠️ Some states have residency or permit-type conditions. Always verify before travel.
Permit duration & renewal?	ℹ️ (CHCL) is valid for 5 years.
Can you conceal anything other than a handgun?	🚫 No. Only handguns.
Permit Licensure?	ℹ️ Arkansas Department of Public Safety

Does Arkansas allow Open Carry?

✅ Legal without a permit for residents 18 and older; open carry allowed.

Does Alabama allow Concealed Carry?

✅ Permitless carry allowed for residents 21+, or 18–20 with valid military-issued permit.

Non‑Lethal Weapons?

✅ Legal to carry pepper spray and stun guns.

Places allowed to carry?

✅ Most public areas, vehicles, and private property (with permission).

Places not allowed to carry?

🚫 Schools, courthouses, polling places, and posted “no-firearms” zones.

States honored?

✅ Arkansas honors all valid out-of-state concealed carry permits.

States reciprocate?

✅ Arkansas's permit is recognized in these states:

Alabama
Arizona
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Indiana
Louisiana
Michigan

Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania

South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

⚠️ Some states have residency or permit-type conditions. Always verify before travel.

Permit duration & renewal?

ℹ️ (CHCL) is valid for 5 years.

Can you conceal anything other than a handgun?

🚫 No. Only handguns.

Permit Licensure?

ℹ️ Arkansas Department of Public Safety

Resources	Links
Legal & State Firearm Info	ATF – State Firearm Laws Arkansas DPS – Concealed Carry & Licensing
Training & Safety	Arkansas DPS – Concealed Carry Training Info NRA Training
Ownership & Carry	NRA‑ILA: Arkansas Gun Laws USCCA – AR CCW Info HandgunLaw.us – Arkansas PDF