Last Updated: July 25, 2025

Disclaimer: While the information provided here is legal in nature, it is not to be construed as legal advice and is for educational and entertainment purposes only.

Introduction

Arkansas, known as the Natural State, ranks as one of the most gun-friendly states in the union, presenting few hurdles or headaches for law-abiding residents wanting to exercise their Second Amendment rights. Buying, owning, and using a gun in Arkansas is easier than almost anywhere in the country.

Of course, no state is perfect, so we’ll go over all you need to know about buying and using firearms in Arkansas.

Snapshot Summary

• Permit to Own/Purchase a Firearm: No
• Permit to Own/Purchase Ammunition: No
• Firearm Registration Requirements: No
• Firearm Restrictions/Bans: No
• Magazine Restrictions/Bans: No
• Other Restrictions/Bans: No
• Safe Storage Laws: No*
• Concealed Carry: Yes, Shall Issue/Constitutional Carry
• Open Carry: Yes
• Castle Doctrine: Yes
• Stand Your Ground Laws: Yes
• Duty to Retreat: No

Before We Get Started

Regarding ownership, transfer, transportation, carry, and possession of guns, ammo, and gun parts, Arkansas prohibits local governments from creating stricter gun restrictions and penalties than those already established in state law.

However, local ordinances can be created to protect people, animals, and property from damage. This setup makes it easier to stay on top of gun laws in the state.

Gun Ownership Laws

In Arkansas, you may not purchase, own, or possess a gun if you:

• Are a fugitive from justice
• Are illegally or unlawfully in the United States
• Are in the United States on a non-immigrant visa
• Were dishonorably discharged from the U.S. military
• Have renounced your U.S. citizenship
• Unlawfully use or are addicted to any controlled substance
• Have been adjudicated as a “mentally defective” or have been involuntarily committed to any mental institution
• Have been convicted of or are under indictment for any crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year
• Have been convicted of a:
  • Felony
  • Domestic violence misdemeanor
• Have been adjudicated as a juvenile delinquent for a crime that, if committed by an adult, would be a felony
• Are subject to any protective order that prohibits gun possession
• Are subject to a valid domestic abuse restraining order

Arkansas defines a felony as any crime that is punishable by at least one year in state or federal prison. These crimes can be committed against either people or property. Examples include:

• Murder
• Manslaughter
• Rape
• Human trafficking
• Kidnapping
• Child pornography
• Armed robbery
• Grand theft auto
• Burglary
• Arson
• Forgery
• Embezzlement

Underage Gun Ownership

State law prohibits anyone from transferring ownership or possession of any firearm to a minor without their parent or guardian’s permission.

State law prohibits anyone under 18 from possessing a handgun except when they are:

• Inside their dwelling or a business in which they have partial or complete ownership;
• On their own private property
• Upon request, assisting a law enforcement officer, correctional officer, or member of the military carrying out their official duties
• Legally hunting with a handgun
• Participating in a certified hunting safety course or a state-approved firearm safety course
• Participating in a school-approved educational course or shooting activity
• Shooting recreationally or participating in a legal shooting competition while under supervision by a parent, guardian, or an approved individual 21 or older acting in a parent or guardian’s stead, such as a grandparent or teacher
• While traveling to or from the legal activities listed above

There is no minimum age for possessing a long gun.

Safe Storage & Child Access Prevention Laws

Arkansas law does not require firearms to be stored in any particular manner. However, parents must prevent minors from illegally possessing a firearm, and they must report if his or her child illegally possesses a firearm and is in or on the premises of:

• Any public or private school
• Any public or private school’s athletic stadium or other building or facility used for school-sponsored events
• Any public park, playground, or civic center

Also, please use common sense and keep your guns inaccessible to untrained children and irresponsible adults.

Firearm Registration Requirements

Arkansas does not require gun owners to register their firearms.

Restrictions and Bans

Arkansas does not restrict or ban ownership of any firearms/firearm types, magazines, or accessories except those already banned or restricted by federal law.

If you want an AR-15 with a 50-round drum magazine, a bump stock, AND a forced reset trigger, the only laws holding you back are the laws of physics.

Purchasing a Gun

Buying From a Dealer

Once you meet all legal requirements for gun ownership, buying a firearm from your local Arkansas gun store is as easy as it gets anywhere in the country.

If you present a valid Concealed Handgun Carry License (CHCL), you can avoid having to go through the background check each time you buy a gun.

Buying a Handgun

To buy a handgun in Arkansas, you must

• Be 21 or older (federal law)
• Meet all legal requirements for handgun possession
• Have a valid Arkansas photo ID
• Submit to an instant background check OR present a valid CHCL or E-CHCL

Buying a Long Gun

To buy a long gun, you must:

• Be 18 or older
• Meet all legal requirements for handgun possession
• Have a valid Arkansas photo ID
• Submit to an instant background check OR present a valid CHCL or E-CHCL

Private Sales

Private gun sales and transfers are almost completely unrestricted in Arkansas. No background checks are necessary; however, it is illegal to knowingly transfer ownership of a handgun to someone who isn’t legally eligible to possess a firearm.

It is also illegal to transfer ownership of a handgun to a minor without their parent or guardian’s consent.

The biggest advantage of private gun purchases belongs to individuals aged 18 to 20. Under Arkansas law, you must be at least 18 to purchase a handgun.

While you may not be eligible for concealed carry just yet, you could have up to three years of training and practice under your belt for when you finally start carrying or obtain your CHCL.

Military

Federal law requires licensed firearms dealers to accept PCS orders and a military ID as the equivalent of a state driver’s license or state ID in the state where you are stationed. Arkansas does not have any perks or extra requirements for military members who wish to buy a gun.

Antiques and Heirlooms

Arkansas has no special laws or regulations for antique firearms. Federal law defines an antique firearm as any matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap, or similar firearm manufactured before 1899 or a replica of such firearm that:

• Is not designed or redesigned for using rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition
• Uses rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition that either is no longer manufactured in the U.S. or is not readily available on the U.S. market

Purchasing Ammo

Under federal law, you must be at least 21 to purchase handgun ammunition, but purchases for long gun ammo are legal for anyone 18 or older.

Concealed Carry & Open Carry

Arkansas is an incredibly gun-friendly state that embraces constitutional carry for anyone. This applies to both open and concealed carry and covers both residents and non-residents who abide by both state and federal gun laws.

Both open carry and concealed carry are illegal if you intend to unlawfully use your firearm against another human being.

Open Carry

On the state level, Arkansas permits open carry of a firearm if you do not intend to use it to unlawfully harm someone else. You also must be legally allowed to possess the firearm.

Concealed Carry

In 2013, Arkansas joined the ranks of states that permit constitutional carry. The state’s law applies to all residents and non-residents who are 18 or older, are legally permitted to possess a firearm, and comply with state and federal laws.

The state’s constitutional carry law negates the need for most state residents to obtain a Concealed Handgun Carry License (CHCL). That said, a CHCL is worth it if you travel to other states that require a concealed carry permit and have reciprocity with Arkansas.

An Enhanced CHCL (E-CHCL) is another good option for carrying both in-state and out-of-state (details below).

Prohibited Places

Even though open carry and concealed carry (with or without a license) are widely allowed, there are still places where you cannot carry a firearm even with a CHCL.

Specifically, Arkansas prohibits handguns on or in:

• Someone else’s home without:
  • Informing them that you are carrying
  • Receiving his or her express permission
• Private entities with signs clearly prohibiting firearms posted at every entrance and which are legible from at least 10 feet away
• Public pre-K schools, K-12 schools, daycare facilities, school buses, or school bus stops
• Any school, college, or university event or campus building
• Posted firearm-sensitive areas at state university hospitals and medical centers;
• Non-shooting athletic events
• Municipality-owned or maintained parks and recreational properties containing:
  • Sports fields actively hosting events or practices
  • Buildings owned or maintained by the municipality
  • Areas leased for special events
• Police, sheriff, or state law enforcement office
• State highway grounds, except rest areas, weigh stations, and public parking areas
• State-owned or operated youth residential treatment facilities
• Jails, prisons, or detention facilities
• Courtrooms
• County courthouses, courthouse annexes, court offices, other court-owned buildings, and buildings leased or regularly used for court proceedings, unless you:
  • Work for the county
  • Are a county elected official
  • Are a justice of the peace
  • Are a non-county government employee with an office or work location inside a listed location
  • Have a primary office or work location inside a listed location
• Meeting places used by “the governing body of any governmental entity”
• General Assembly meetings or committee meetings
• State offices
• Airports
• Bars and bar areas of restaurants
• Places of worship without permission from the head of the place of worship
• Parades and demonstrations requiring a permit in which you are a participant
• Federal buildings, including post offices, National Park visitor centers, and ranger stations
• Any other location prohibited by federal law

Other places also regularly ban firearms. These are determined on a case-by-case basis and don’t fall under state law, such as hotels.

It is perfectly legal to carry guns openly or concealed in national parks or national forests if you abide by state law. That said, you cannot carry in visitor centers, ranger stations, offices, or maintenance buildings, since these are all technically federal buildings.

If you do happen to visit a prohibited place, just leave your handgun in the car in accordance with state transportation storage laws.

Getting Your CHCL

To apply for a CHCL, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or legal U.S. resident
• Be at least 21 years old OR 18 years old if you:
  • Are active duty military
  • Were honorably discharged
  • Received a general discharge under honorable conditions
  • Have veteran status
• Be a legal Arkansas resident for the last 90 days OR be a military member (or spouse) on active duty stationed in Arkansas with supporting documentation
• Have a valid Arkansas photo ID
• Meet all legal requirements to possess a firearm
• Not suffer from a mental or physical illness that prevents you from safely handling a handgun
• Not have attempted or threatened suicide
• Not habitually or chronically abuse alcohol or controlled substances to the point of impairment
• Not have been committed to a mental or mental health institution or treatment facility (voluntarily or involuntarily)
• Not have an active arrest warrant
• Not have been convicted of illegally carrying a weapon within the last five years;
• Complete an approved firearms training class
• Read Arkansas concealed carry law
• Sign a statement pledging allegiance to the U.S. and Arkansas constitutions;
• Submit a full set of “classifiable” fingerprints
• Pay the application and background check fees (no cash)

CHCL fees are approximately $92 for most individuals, but are lower at $66 for those 65 or older.

If you have been convicted of a felony, the governor may restore your right to possess a firearm in certain circumstances.

CHCL Training Requirements

Arkansas’s CHCL training requirements are relatively lax compared to most states, but those requirements still exist. To qualify for a permit, you must complete a state-approved five-hour handgun course that covers:

• Knowledge of Arkansas gun and use of deadly force law
• Familiarity with basic handgun safety concepts
• Knowledge of self-defense principles
• Physical handgun competence (live-fire)

You can visit the Arkansas Department of Public Safety (DPS) webpage to find an instructor who teaches a state-approved class.

The state allows you to complete the classroom portion of your training online, but the live-fire portion must be completed in person. That said, if you are active-duty military, a reservist, or a National Guard member, you may bypass the live-fire portion of the training if you can provide:

• A letter dated and personally signed by your commanding officer (or his or her designee) testifying to your good character and sound judgment
• A completed DPS-approved form showing you have met the military qualification requirements for issuance and operation of a handgun within the last year
• A copy of the photograph side of your current military ID
• A copy of your orders (if you are on active duty)

The Waiting Game

Once you’ve got everything squared away, you will need to submit your application to DPS either online or by mail (civilian or active duty military/veteran).

You can also walk in your application to the Arkansas State Police Headquarters in Little Rock. For detailed application instructions for each application method and circumstance, check out these links:

• Online application
• Online (military) application
• Paper application
• Paper (military or veteran)

Once your application has been submitted, you can check its status here.

You should hear within 120 days of submitting your application (with fingerprint cards and training certificate) whether it was approved or denied. During that time, DPS will conduct a background check and determine if you are eligible for a permit.

If you are denied, you will receive a written notification detailing DPS’s reasons and information about how to appeal the decision.

Along those lines, even if you have already been issued a permit, DPS can suspend or revoke your CHCL if the department or local law enforcement determines you no longer meet all permit requirements.

If you are arrested, issued a citation, or formally charged with a crime that disqualifies you from possessing a CHCL, you are required to report that information to DPS, which will then suspend your license.

Since Arkansas is a shall-issue state, DPS must issue you a CHCL if you meet all the requirements. All CHCLs are valid for five years.

Any CHCL Exceptions or Loopholes?

Constitutional carry is the biggest exception to any concealed carry permitting requirement.

If you are a retired law enforcement officer, Arkansas does not offer any way for you to carry concealed under the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004 (LEOSA) in other states. Instead, you will need to apply for a CHCL like everyone else.

Renewing Your CHCL

You can start the renewal process up to 90 days ahead of your permit’s expiration date. There is also a 60-day grace period after your permit expires. After that, you will have to apply for a brand-new permit, including the training course.

To renew your CHCL, you must submit:

• A renewal application
• A new training certification earned within the last six months
• Renewal and background check fees

If you don’t have a driver’s license or the digital copy of the photo on your license is inaccessible to DPS for any other reason, you will need to get a new photo taken as well.

The fee will be approximately $53 if your application is submitted before your permit expires. However, during the grace period, you will also incur a $15 late fee. Otherwise, the renewal process is the same as the first-time application process.

You can submit your completed renewal application online, by mail, or in person at the DPS Headquarters in Little Rock.

Enhanced CHCL (E-CHCL)

It is worth noting that Arkansas gives you the option to obtain an Enhanced Concealed Handgun Carry License (E-CHCL). An E-CHCL offers two main advantages over a standard CHCL.

First, an E-CHCL expands the number of places where you can legally carry a concealed handgun. Unlike standard licenses, an E-CHCL allows you to carry concealed in the following locations:

• Publicly owned buildings and facilities
• State Capitol Building and grounds
• Meeting places used by “the governing body of any governmental entity”
• General Assembly meetings or committee meetings
• Any state office
• Athletic events
• Restaurant bars and establishments that serve beer and light wine
• Unsecured airport passenger terminals (i.e., outside TSA checkpoints)
• Churches and places of worship
• Parades and demonstrations requiring a permit, even if you are a participant
• Buildings and grounds of public colleges or universities

When carrying in these places, you must keep your handgun completely concealed. Accidentally printing or exposing your gun for a brief moment once won’t be an issue, but careless exposure could land you in legal trouble.

You must also keep your firearm within arm’s reach at all times. All other prohibited place restrictions still apply.

Second, an E-CHCL serves as an extra layer of defense if you ever find yourself in court following a defensive shooting.

Although not bulletproof by any means, the license upgrade could indicate to jurors that you are a conscientious individual who went the extra mile to get better training before carrying a handgun. This could give the jury a slightly better impression of you when you need it most.

E-CHCL Application

If you choose to apply for an E-CHCL on the first go-round or to apply for it when you renew your standard license, there is no extra fee, and the application process and requirements are almost identical to the processes for obtaining or renewing a standard CHCL. The key difference is that you are required to complete the state-approved enhanced training.

If you want to upgrade your existing license to an E-CHCL, it will cost you $15 for the upgrade, which covers the cost of making you a new card, and you will need to use this form.

Also, make sure your training meets E-CHCL requirements before submitting your application for the upgrade.

If you move to Arkansas, the state will not transfer your previous state’s enhanced CCW permit into an E-CHCL. You must apply for the enhanced license the same way as everyone else.

E-CHCL Training Requirements

By completing additional training (eight hours instead of five), you can qualify for an E-CHCL. State law requires E-CHCL training to cover:

• E-CHCL rights, responsibilities, and prohibited places
• Arkansas self-defense and use of deadly force law
• Arkansas civil liability laws regarding firearm-inflicted personal injury and property damage
• Responding to “emergent situations” in public locations, including how to respond to law enforcement and avoid injury to innocent bystanders
• Identifying yourself as an E-CHCL holder when in contact with law enforcement;
• Carrying on college and university campuses
• Dangers of carrying or using firearms around hazardous materials or while drinking alcohol
• Weapon retention techniques
• Live-fire training

You can visit the Arkansas Department of Public Safety (DPS) webpage to find an instructor who teaches a state-approved class.

E-CHCL Renewal

To renew your E-CHCL, you will follow the same process as any other license renewal; however, you are not required to retake the entire E-CHCL training. All you need is a regular CHCL training completed within the last six months.

Reciprocity

Most states allow Arkansas CHCL holders to carry concealed, although this is more due to constitutional (permitless) carry laws on the books rather than official reciprocity.

The age of eligibility varies by state, and the laws for permitless carry may differ from regular concealed carry laws, even within the same state.

A handful of states recognize Arkansas CHCLs but require CHCL holders to meet additional restrictions before carrying concealed. In some cases, it may be a simple age restriction. These states include Colorado, Michigan, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Virginia.

While most states recognize CHCLs (or don’t care about permits at all), there are still some that do not. A CHCL is not recognized in:

• California
• Connecticut
• Hawaii
• Illinois
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• New Jersey
• New York
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• Washington
• Washington D.C.

Note: You’ll want to take a look at our state gun law guides for whichever state you’re planning on visiting, just to familiarize yourself with the gun laws on carrying while out there, and be aware of the differences you might need to be careful of.

Always check the law in the state you’re traveling to before you carry there.

Carry Laws for Out-of-State Visitors

For those of you who already have CCW permits from other states, Arkansas has you covered. The state recognizes every valid out-of-state permit.

The only other requirements for out-of-state CCW permit holders are that you abide by Arkansas’s gun and concealed carry qualification laws and that you are in the state legally.

Arkansas’s constitutional carry law requires you to be 18 or older to carry without a permit and does not require you to be an Arkansas resident. The only other requirements are that you abide by the state and federal gun laws and that you are in the state legally.

Transporting Your Guns

Arkansas’s firearm transportation laws are very limited. If you can legally possess a firearm and do not plan to use it to harm another person, you can store or transport your gun almost anywhere inside your vehicle.

If you leave your firearm inside your vehicle for any reason, you must store your gun out of sight and locked inside the vehicle.

Private employers cannot prohibit you from transporting or storing your personal firearm inside your vehicle in the employer’s parking lot. However, a private employer can prohibit you from entering their place of business or parking lot with a gun in your vehicle if:

• Your employer’s parking lot is on the same grounds as their own single-family residence
• Your vehicle is already prohibited from being in the employer’s parking lot for other reasons
• You are driving a company-owned vehicle in the course of your duties (except if your job requires you to transport or store a firearm)
• You are under active or pending employment disciplinary measures
• Your employer reasonably believes you possess the gun illegally
• You have been adjudicated as mentally incompetent or found not guilty in court due to mental “disease or defect”

Your employer can also prohibit another person from storing their gun in your vehicle.

If you possess a valid CHCL, you may also store your firearm inside your locked vehicle in a publicly owned or maintained parking lot so long as that parking lot is not a prohibited place under Arkansas law.

During a traffic stop, you must inform the officer if you possess a valid CHCL and are carrying a firearm.

Self-Defense/Use of Force

When Is Lethal Force Allowed?

Aside from practicing at the shooting range, you hopefully will never need to fire your guns. If you are ever faced with a deadly threat to yourself or others, however, Arkansas does allow for the use of deadly force in certain circumstances. That said, your use of force must always be proportional to the threat.

State law specifically protects your right to use deadly force if you reasonably believe deadly force is necessary to defend yourself or another against:

• The commission or imminent commission of a felony involving physical force or violence
• The use or imminent use of unlawful deadly force
• The imminent endangerment of a person’s life
• The imminent victimization of a person as part of a continued pattern of domestic abuse (physical or sexual)

All that said, there are limits. You cannot claim self-defense in Arkansas if you:

• Provoked another person to the use of unlawful physical or deadly force
• Engaged in combat by agreement (gang fight, duel, etc.)
• Were the initial aggressor

If you were the initial aggressor but you in good faith withdrew from the situation and effectively communicated your withdrawal, you can still claim self-defense if the other person continues using or threatening to use physical force against you.

Castle Doctrine

In Arkansas, your home is your castle. Under what is commonly known as the “Castle Doctrine,” you can defend yourself when you are at home or in one of your outdoor living spaces, such as your yard or garden.

You are justified in using or threatening physical force, including deadly physical force, against an aggressor when you reasonably believe physical force is necessary to prevent them from imminently following through on a threat of death or serious physical injury against you or another person.

Standing Your Ground/Duty to Retreat

Arkansas is a Stand Your Ground state that protects your right to self-defense. There is no duty to retreat in any place where you are lawfully present, and you:

• Reasonably believe an aggressor is imminently threatening you or another person with death or serious physical injury
• Are not the initial aggressor
• Did not provoke the aggressor to threaten death or physical injury
• Are not committing a firearm possession felony during your use of force unless you are at home or on the land immediately next to your home that you use as a regular living space (such as your yard or garden)
• Are not engaged in criminal activity
• Are not engaged in activity furthering the aims of any criminal gang, organization, or enterprise as defined by state law

Of course, even with all these laws on self-defense, you should always use your best judgment to decide what type of force is appropriate. Just because you are allowed to use deadly force doesn’t mean you have to.

Taking any life is always a serious decision and may not always be necessary in order to end a threat to you and your loved ones.

Final Thoughts

And on that happy note, we’re done! If you’re lucky enough to live in the Natural State, it’s time to buy a gun (or three). Buy as many as you can and start punching holes in paper!

Of course, you’ll need a place to store all those guns. A sturdy safe can keep your guns from prying eyes and curious kids. If you want to start smaller, a gun cabinet, or even just a decent handgun safe may be a good investment. Getting proper training with your firearms is a good idea, too. Happy shooting!