Last Updated: Friday, September 5, 2025
Arkansas Gun Laws
Gun Laws Overview
RIFLES & SHOTGUNS | HANDGUNS | |
---|---|---|
Licensing of Owners | No | No |
Permit to Carry | No | No |
Permit to Purchase | No | No |
Registration of Firearms | No | No |
The list and map below are included as a tool to assist you in validating your information. We have made every effort to report the information correctly, however reciprocity and recognition agreements are subject to frequent change. The information is not intended as legal advice or a restatement of law and does not include: restrictions that may be placed on non-resident permits, individuals under the age of 21, qualifying permit classes, and/or any other factor which may limit reciprocity and/or recognition. For any particular situation, a licensed local attorney must be consulted for an accurate interpretation. YOU MUST ABIDE WITH ALL LAWS: STATE, FEDERAL AND LOCAL. |
STATE STATUS | |
---|---|
Castle Doctrine | Enacted |
Right to Carry Confidentiality | Provisions Enacted |
Right to Carry in Restaurants | Partial Ban |
Right To Carry Laws | No Permit Required |
Right To Carry Reciprocity and Recognition | Outright Recognition |
Right to Keep & Bear Arms State Constitutional Provisions | With Provisions |
Laws on Purchase, Possession and Carrying of Firearms
Hardware Restrictions/Bans
Arkansas has no laws restricting or banning “assault weapons,” “large capacity” magazines, personally made/unserialized firearms, or bump stocks or forced reset triggers. MORE |
Ammunition
Arkansas does not require background checks for ammunition purchases. Arkansas does not regulate sellers of ammunition. There are no categorical bans of ammunition in state law. |
Licensing or Permitting of Possession/Acquisition
Arkansas does not require a license or permit to possess or acquire a firearm. A person in possession of a valid concealed carry permit issued by Arkansas is exempt from a federal NICS check when purchasing a firearm; see ATF Brady Chart (2025) at Brady Permit Chart | Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. |
Registration
Arkansas does not require gun owners or their firearms to be registered. MORE |
Possession Standards
Possession or ownership of any firearm is unlawful for any person who has been convicted of a felony, adjudicated to be mentally ill, or who has been committed involuntarily to any mental institution. Ark. Code Ann. § 5-73-103(a). MORE |
Right to Carry
Open carry is legal without a permit. Arkansas honors the carry licenses/permits of every other state. Permitless carry is legal in Arkansas provided the firearm is not being carried “for use with a purpose to attempt to unlawfully employ the handgun, knife, or club as a weapon against a person.” MORE |
Preemption
A local unit of government may not enact or enforce any ordinance or regulation affecting firearms or ammunition, except as allowed by state law. MORE |
Private Transfers
Arkansas does not regulate private transfers of firearms. MORE |
Stand Your Ground
Ark. Code Ann. § 5-2-606(c), on the justified use of non-deadly defensive force, states that a person who uses or threatens to use physical force as otherwise permitted under that section “does not have a duty to retreat before using or threatening to use the physical force if the person is: (1) lawfully present in the location; (2) not engaged in criminal activity that gives rise to the need to use physical force; and (3) not engaged in any activity in furtherance of a criminal gang, organization, or enterprise…” Ark. Code Ann. § 5-2-607(b) on the use of deadly force, states that generally, a person is not required to retreat before using deadly physical force if the person is lawfully present at the location where deadly physical force is used and meets the other requirements listed (e.g., the person using force cannot be committing the felony offense of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person). |
Red Flag Law
Arkansas has no red flag/ extreme risk protection order law. |
Sources: Arkansas Code Annotated § 5-73-101 through § 5-73-402. |
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Wednesday, April 2, 2025
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Tuesday, March 18, 2025
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Wednesday, March 12, 2025
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Tuesday, March 4, 2025
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Monday, January 13, 2025
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Friday, April 7, 2023
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Monday, January 9, 2023
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Friday, February 18, 2022
This week, the Arkansas State Legislature convened for its 2022 Fiscal Session.
Tuesday, December 28, 2021
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