Arkansas Carry Laws

Duty to Inform - Display License on Demand

Arkansas: No duty to volunteer that you are carrying. A concealed handgun carry licensee must carry the license with valid ID and display both upon an officer's demand (Ark. Code § 5-73-315).

DUTY TO INFORM LAW ENFORCEMENT
ARKANSAS REQUIREMENT
Type: DISPLAY LICENSE ON DEMAND
A licensee must carry the license with valid ID and display both when a law enforcement officer demands them. There is no duty to volunteer that you are armed, and no notification duty at all if you are carrying without a license under Arkansas's permitless carry law.
WHAT THIS MEANS
Under Ark. Code § 5-73-315, a concealed handgun carry licensee must have the license (or an acceptable electronic copy) and valid identification on them while carrying, and must display both when an officer demands them. Arkansas does not require you to announce that you are armed on your own initiative, and a person carrying without a license under Act 777 of 2023 has no display or notification obligation.
CONSEQUENCES OF NON-COMPLIANCE
Failing to carry or display the license and identification on demand can jeopardize the license; Arkansas law does not create a separate 'failure to inform' offense.

No-Carry Signs - License Does Not Authorize Carry

Arkansas: a posted 'no firearms' sign removes a concealed-carry license's protection there, but Section 5-73-306 only defines a violation for licensees given direct notice who then stay or come back — not for merely entering past a sign.

Arkansas Code Section 5-73-306 lets a person or entity controlling a property bar concealed handguns by posting written notice at each entrance, readable from at least ten feet, stating carrying a handgun is prohibited (subdivision (18)(A)(i)); a concealed handgun license does not authorize carry into a posted place. Separately, subdivision (19) lets a private entity that has not posted a sign instead give a licensee written or verbal notice; that licensee is deemed to have violated subdivision (19) only if, after receiving the notice, they remain at or return to the place while still carrying. The posted-sign provision itself does not state that carrying past the sign is, on its own, a separate criminal offense.

No-Carry Signs - License Withdrawn, Crime Only After Notice

Arkansas: A compliant posted notice ('carrying a handgun is prohibited', readable at 10 feet) means your license does not authorize carry there (5-73-306(18)), but the statute's only violation clause is scoped to direct written/verbal notification — you are 'deemed to have violated' it only by remaining at or returning to the place after being notified (5-73-306(19)(A)(ii)(b)).

NO-CARRY SIGNS - LICENSE WITHDRAWN, CRIME ONLY AFTER NOTICE
Arkansas

Arkansas: A compliant posted notice ('carrying a handgun is prohibited', readable at 10 feet) means your license does not authorize carry there (5-73-306(18)), but the statute's only violation clause is scoped to direct written/verbal notification — you are 'deemed to have violated' it only by remaining at or returning to the place after being notified (5-73-306(19)(A)(ii)(b)).

Authority: Arkansas Concealed Handgun Carry Licensing Code §§ 5-73-301 through 5-73-329 (Arkansas Department of Public Safety / Arkansas State Police).

Stand Your Ground - No Duty to Retreat (Conditions Apply)

Arkansas: Stand Your Ground state (Ark. Code Ann. §§ 5-2-606(c), 5-2-607(b), Act 250 of 2021). No duty to retreat before using physical or deadly physical force if you are lawfully present, not the initial aggressor, not engaged in criminal activity (including gang-related activity), and — for deadly force — not unlawfully possessing the firearm used unless at your own dwelling/curtilage. Castle Doctrine also applies at home (§ 5-2-608).

SELF-DEFENSE LAWS
ARKANSAS LAW
Stand Your Ground: YES (since Act 250 of 2021)
Castle Doctrine: YES
Arkansas repealed its duty to retreat in Act 250 of 2021, amending Ark. Code §§ 5-2-606 and 5-2-607.
WHAT THIS MEANS
No Duty to Retreat: Under Ark. Code §§ 5-2-606 and 5-2-607, as amended by Act 250 of 2021, you have no duty to retreat before using or threatening physical or deadly physical force if you are lawfully present in the location, are not engaged in criminal activity, and are not acting in furtherance of a criminal gang, organization or enterprise. The Castle Doctrine additionally protects you in your home.

Constitutional Carry - No Permit Required

Arkansas allows permitless concealed carry for anyone 18+ who can legally possess a firearm.

Arkansas passed constitutional carry effective 2023. Adults 18+ may carry concealed without a permit. Open carry is legal. Enhanced permit available for additional locations. Prohibited places: schools, government buildings, churches (unless permitted). Ark. Code Ann. §5-73-329 (added by Act 777 of 2023, which clarified that no license is required to carry concealed); see also §5-73-120 (carrying a weapon) and §5-73-306 (prohibited places).

No Magazine Capacity Limit

Arkansas has no state-level magazine capacity restrictions. Standard and extended magazines are legal.

MAGAZINE CAPACITY RESTRICTIONS
ARKANSAS LAW
No state restrictions on magazine capacity.
FEDERAL FACILITIES
Note: Some federal facilities may have their own restrictions regardless of state law.

No Red Flag Law

Arkansas: No red flag (ERPO) law is in effect as of February 2026.

RED FLAG / EXTREME RISK LAW
Arkansas

Arkansas: No red flag (ERPO) law is in effect as of February 2026.

Authority: no extreme-risk (ERPO) statute in the state code as of February 2026; Johns Hopkins National ERPO Resource Center state tracker.

Vehicle Carry - Loaded Firearms Allowed

Arkansas: Constitutional carry state. Adults may carry loaded firearms in vehicles without permit.

VEHICLE CARRY - LOADED FIREARMS ALLOWED
Arkansas

Arkansas: Constitutional carry state. Adults may carry loaded firearms in vehicles without permit.

Authority: Arkansas Weapons Possession and Use Code §§ 5-73-101 through 5-73-133 (Arkansas Department of Public Safety / Arkansas State Police, current to August 1, 2025).