Arkansas Concealed Carry: Laws and Reciprocity

by | State Reciprocity and Restrictions

Last updated on February 6th, 2019 at 02:47 pm

Arkansas requires a person to be 21 years old to apply for a concealed carry permit (CHCL). However, persons 18-20 are eligible for the CHCL if they meet certain criteria. Applicants should send their completed application including fingerprints and proof of firearms education to the Director of the Department of Arkansas State Police. The fee for a concealed carry license is $100 dollars, and approval or denial of the permit should be sent within 120 days. An Arkansas concealed carry permit is valid for 5 years from date of issuance. Currently, Arkansas does not issue non-resident permits to carry concealed.

It is worth noting that, the court of appeals in Taff vs. State of Arkansas (October 2018 ruling) recognizes that mere possession of a firearm (whether open or concealed) is not a criminal offense. However, the state is still considered “shall issue” for a CHCL.

This information was last updated in November 2018.

Arkansas Concealed Carry By The Numbers

Average Cost in Dollars*

# of States That Accept AR License

# of Years Valid

Minimum Age*

# of Days To Get A Permit

Reciprocity Map for Arkansas

Use the tabs below to display states that will accept an Arkansas concealed carry permit or those states that Arkansas will honor. Click the sections below for a complete listing of states in each category, along with other relevant information.

States That Honor Arkansas Concealed Carry
  1. Alaska – Must be of legal age to carry, and state ID required. Also honors state issued concealed carry permit.
  2. Alabama
  3. Arizona
  4. Colorado – Resident Permit ONLY
  5. Delaware
  6. Florida – Resident Permit ONLY
  7. Georgia
  8. Idaho
  9. Indiana
  10. Iowa
  11. Kansas – Must be of legal age to carry, and state ID required. Also honors state issued concealed carry permit.
  12. Kentucky
  13. Louisiana
  14. Maine – Resident Permit ONLY
  15. Michigan
  16. Minnesota
  17. Mississippi – Must be of legal age to carry, and state ID required. Also honors state issued concealed carry permit.
  18. Missouri – No permit required. No longer recognizes AR issued permit.
  19. Montana
  20. New Hampshire – Resident Permit ONLY
  21. North Carolina
  22. North Dakota
  23. Ohio
  24. Oklahoma
  25. Pennsylvania – Resident Permit ONLY
  26. South Dakota
  27. Tennessee
  28. Texas
  29. Utah
  30. Vermont
  31. Virginia
  32. West Virginia
  33. Wisconsin
  34. Wyoming

 

Arkansas Will Honor The Following States
  1. Alabama
  2. Alaska
  3. Arizona
  4. Arkansas
  5. California
  6. Colorado
  7. Connecticut
  8. Delaware
  9. Florida
  10. Georgia
  11. Hawaii
  12. Idaho
  13. Illinois
  14. Indiana
  15. Iowa
  16. Kansas
  17. Kentucky
  18. Louisiana
  19. Maine
  20. Maryland
  21. Massachusetts
  22. Michigan
  23. Minnesota
  24. Mississippi
  25. Missouri
  26. Montana
  27. Nebraska
  28. Nevada
  29. New Hampshire
  30. New Jersey
  31. New Mexico
  32. New York
  33. North Carolina
  34. North Dakota
  35. Ohio
  36. Oklahoma
  37. Oregon
  38. Pennsylvania
  39. Rhode Island
  40. South Carolina
  41. South Dakota
  42. Tennessee
  43. Texas
  44. Utah
  45. Vermont
  46. Virginia
  47. Washington
  48. West Virginia
  49. Wisconsin
  50. Wyoming

How To Apply for an Arkansas Concealed Carry License

Can I get a concealed carry permit in Arkansas?
A permit is not required to carry a firearm concealed or openly in the state. Arkansas is a shall issue state. This means that if the applicant meets a set of standard criteria they will be issued a concealed carry permit. Certain criteria that may prevent you from receiving a concealed carry permit include, but are not limited to:

  • conviction of a felony in any state
  • chronic or habitual use of a controlled substance or alcohol
  • adjudicated mentally incompetent
  • mental or physical infirmity that prevents the safe handling of a handgun
  • threatened or attempted suicide

Relevant Code(s):

Section 15-73-309

What is the minimum age to obtain a CCW license in AR?
Arkansas law states that the age requirement for a person to obtain a CHCL is 21 years old. However, an individual who is 18 years old and is an active duty or reserve member of the United States Armed Forces (including National Guard) or served and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces is eligible for an Arkansas concealed carry permit.

Relevant Code(s):

Section 5-73-309

Who issues a concealed carry permit in Arkansas?
Residents of Arkansas should apply with the Director of the Department of Arkansas State Police to obtain a concealed permit. The request will be processed within 30 days of notice that application was sent by the department.

Relevant Code(s):

Section 5-73-302

Section 5-73-311

 

How long is an Arkansas concealed carry permit good for?
Arkansas concealed carry permits are valid for 5 years from the date of issuance. However, the license can be revoked by the Director of the Department of Arkansas State Police before the expiration in certain scenarios.

Relevant Code(s):

Section 5-73-302

Section 5-73-308

Does AR issue concealed permits to non-residents?
The state of Arkansas does not issue non-resident concealed carry permits. According to the permit requirements section, a person must be a citizen of the United States, or legal permanent resident. Furthermore, applicants must have been a continuous resident of the state for 90 days or longer immediately preceding application.

Relevant Code(s):

Section 5-73-309

How long does it take to process a concealed carry application?
According to the below code, the Director of the Department of Arkansas State Police shall issue or deny the application within 120 days from receipt of a complete application and any fees to issue the permit.

Relevant Code(s):

Section 5-73-308

How much does a concealed carry permit cost?
The cost to obtain a new concealed carry permit in Arkansas is $100. However, is the applicant is 65 years or older, the fee will only be $50. However, the cost for processing fingerprints “shall be borne by the applicant.”

Relevant Code(s):

Section 5-73-311

What are the accepted forms of competency training?
Arkansas has an education requirement to obtain a concealed carry permit. However, the language is vague and states in order to obtain a CHCL the applicant must have “satisfactorily completed a training course as prescribed and approved by the director.” Since online courses are not specifically addressed in the code, ensure that the instructor has director approval.

Relevant Code(s):

Section 5-73-309

Section 5-73-318

Restrictions on Carrying A Firearm in Arkansas

Is Arkansas an Open Carry State?
Arkansas is an open carry state. A recent decision (October 2018) by the Arkansas Court of Appeals in Taff vs. State of Arkansas (CR-18-353) upholds the ability to openly carry or concealed carry a firearm. Section 5-73-120 states:

“person commits the offense of carrying a weapon if he or she possesses a handgun, knife, or club on or about his or her person, in a vehicle occupied by him or her, or otherwise readily available for use with a purpose to attempt to unlawfully employ the handgun, knife, or club as a weapon against a person.“

Therefore, the state decision shows that mere possession of a handgun is not in and of itself a crime unless there is intent to employ it as a weapon against a person.

Relevant Code(s):

Section 5-73-120

Can I Conceal Carry in a Vehicle?
The language in the code is unclear about carrying in a vehicle. However, the following excerpt indicates you are allowed to carry in your vehicle if you have a concealed carry permit, since vehicles are not expressly forbidden in Section 5-73-306.

“The person is in possession of a concealed handgun and has a valid license to carry a concealed handgun under § 5-73-301 et seq., or recognized under § 5-73-321 and is not in a prohibited place as defined by § 5-73-306;”

Furthermore, the October 2018 decision in Taff vs. the State of Arkansas would seem to apply when carrying in a vehicle since “vehicle” is explicitly referenced in the code. The decision indicates that possession alone is not a crime unless there is intent to use the weapon against a person.

“A person commits the offense of carrying a weapon if he or she possesses a handgun, knife, or club on or about his or her person, in a vehicle occupied by him or her, or otherwise readily available for use with a purpose to attempt to unlawfully employ the handgun, knife, or club as a weapon against a person.

 

Relevant Code(s):

Section 5-73-306

Section 5-73-120

Can I Conceal Carry in State Parks?
You are allowed to carry a concealed firearm into Arkansas state parks, provided you have a concealed carry license. However, certain buildings are excluded, and any signage designating the area as gun free must be obeyed.

Relevant Code(s):

Park Directive 3070

Am I Allowed To Conceal Carry In Restaurants?
The state of Arkansas allows the holder of a concealed permit to carry in restaurants. However, you should obey posted signage that indicates the establishment does not allow concealed carry. Per the below, carrying concealed is prohibited where alcohol is served unless it meets the requirements that constitute a restaurant.

“A portion of an establishment, except a restaurant as defined in § 3-5-1202, licensed to dispense alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises.”

Relevant Code(s):

Section 5-73-306

Section 3-5-1202

Can I Conceal Carry in a Church?
Arkansas state law lists churches and places of worship as locations where you are not allowed to carry concealed. However, a church does have discretion regarding whom they may permit to carry on premises. Below is the verbiage from the applicable section:

“a license to carry a concealed handgun issued under this subchapter does not authorize a person to carry a concealed handgun into:[…]Any church or other place of worship.(B) However, this subchapter does not preclude a church or other place of worship from determining who may carry a concealed handgun into the church or other place of worship.[…]”

Relevant Code(s):

Section 5-73-306

Can I Conceal Carry in a Bank?
Banking and financial institutions are not explicitly listed in the prohibited locations section of the Arkansas code. However, any posted signage should be obeyed.

Relevant Code(s):

Section 5-73-306

Can I Conceal Carry in a Hospital?
It is not illegal to conceal carry in a hospital, unless otherwise addressed in other sections of the state code. However, it explicitly declares “The Arkansas State Hospital” as a prohibited location. It is unclear if this is in part, or whole, a “firearm-sensitive” location. As always, I recommend following any posted signage declaring firearms prohibited.

“A posted firearm-sensitive area, as approved by the Department of Arkansas State Police under § 5-73-325, located at: (A)The Arkansas State Hospital; (B) The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; or (C) A collegiate athletic event.”

Relevant Code(s):

Section 5-73-306

The content of this page is for informational purposes. It is not intended as a substitute for legal council, or intended as legal advice. It is recommended that you inquire with the state about the validity of the information contained herein.

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