05/14/2026
Do I Need an Arkansas Concealed Carry License?
Here are some answers to questions I get about every other day.
Arkansas Act 777 of 2023, which became effective in August 2023, solidified “constitutional carry” in the State of Arkansas. Individuals 18 years of age or older who can legally possess a firearm may carry it openly or concealed without a permit.
Building on Act 746 of 2013, it clarified that while licenses are no longer required, restrictions still apply in certain prohibited locations.
Key Aspects of Arkansas Law (2026):
• Permitless Carry: Individuals who may legally possess a firearm under state and federal law may carry openly or concealed without a permit.
• Vehicle Carry: Loaded fi****ms may be carried in a vehicle by individuals 18 years of age or older.
• Sensitive Places: Even with constitutional carry, fi****ms remain prohibited in certain locations such as K-12 schools, police stations, courthouses, detention facilities, and secure government buildings.
• Voluntary Licenses: Arkansas still offers voluntary Concealed Handgun Carry Licenses (CHCL) for reciprocity with other states and to assist with firearm purchases in some situations.
• Minimum Age: Arkansas permitless carry is generally 18 and older. A standard Arkansas CHCL generally requires the applicant to be 21 years old.
Important Considerations:
• Off-Limit Locations: Constitutional carry did not eliminate restrictions on carrying fi****ms in designated prohibited places.
• Enhanced Carry Endorsement: Arkansas offers an enhanced concealed carry endorsement that allows carry in certain additional restricted areas, such as some public college properties and other designated locations.
Most people who still obtain a Concealed Carry License today do so because they travel out of state.
States With Constitutional Carry (2026):
Currently, 29 states recognize some form of constitutional or permitless carry:
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
New Hampshire
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
West Virginia
Wyoming
Several states allow permitless carry at age 18, while others require individuals to be 21 years old.
Traveling Through Other States.
What if you travel through a state that does not recognize Arkansas’ concealed carry license or does not allow permitless carry?
Federal law under the Firearm Owners Protection Act (FOPA), 18 U.S.C. § 926A, provides certain protections for travelers passing through restrictive states.
Generally, the firearm should be unloaded, secured in a locked container, and not readily accessible from the passenger compartment.
Travelers should also pay close attention to magazine capacity laws. In some states, possession of certain magazines can itself be a criminal offense even if firearm possession is otherwise lawful.
States With Magazine Restrictions (2026):
• California — 10-round limit
• Colorado — 15-round limit
• Connecticut — 10-round limit
• Delaware — 17-round limit
• Hawaii — 10-round limit for handguns
• Illinois — 10 rounds for rifles, 15 for handguns
• Maryland — 10-round limit
• Massachusetts — 10-round limit
• New Jersey — 10-round limit
• New York — 10-round limit
• Rhode Island — 10-round limit
• Vermont — 10 rounds for rifles, 15 for handguns
• Washington — 10-round limit
• Washington, D.C. — 10-round limit
States Where Possession Can Be Charged as a Felony:
• Rhode Island — Possession of a magazine holding more than 10 rounds can be charged as a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
• New Jersey — Possession of certain magazines over 10 rounds can be charged as a fourth-degree crime punishable by up to 18 months in prison.
• Massachusetts — Possession of a magazine over 10 rounds without proper licensing or exemption can be charged as a felony punishable by substantial prison time.
States Where Possession May Be Charged as a Misdemeanor:
• California — Possession violations are commonly charged as misdemeanors carrying up to one year in county jail. Importing, manufacturing, or selling prohibited magazines can potentially result in felony charges.
• New York — Possession of an unauthorized magazine over 10 rounds may be charged as a Class A misdemeanor and can become a felony with prior criminal history.
• Colorado — Illegal possession may be charged as a Class 2 misdemeanor.
So when planning a trip or vacation, make sure you research the laws of every state you plan to travel through.
Firearm laws can change quickly, and penalties in some states can be severe.
The choice is ultimately up to you. Some people obtain a permit for reciprocity purposes, while others simply seek practical self-defense and fi****ms training.
I offer whatever your needs and wants are.
I hope this helps answer some of the questions people have been asking.
Get on the fi****ms range and practice!
Mickey
