Alaska Gun Laws

Alaska does not criminalize the concealed carrying of a handgun by a person 21 years of age or older who lawfully possesses the handgun. AS 11.61.220(a)(6) makes it a class B misdemeanor for a person under 21 to knowingly possess a concealed deadly weapon; AS 11.61.220(a)(1) imposes the duty to inform a peace officer upon contact. Permitless carry has been in effect since September 9, 2003 (HB 102, Chapter 62 SLA 2003).

"A person commits the crime of misconduct involving weapons in the fifth degree if the person ... is 21 years of age or older and knowingly possesses a deadly weapon, other than an ordinary pocket knife or a defensive weapon, ... that is concealed on the person, and, when contacted by a peace officer, the person fails to immediately inform the peace officer of that possession."

AS 11.61.220(a)(1) statute

Alaska's permitless-carry law was enacted as House Bill 102 of the 23rd Legislature, signed by Governor Frank Murkowski on June 11, 2003, codified as Chapter 62 SLA 2003, with an effective date of September 9, 2003. The bill caption is 'Relating to concealed deadly weapons.' Alaska became the second state (after Vermont) to allow permitless concealed carry.

"Relating to concealed deadly weapons."

Chapter 62 SLA 2003 (HB 102) statute

Alaska issues an optional Alaska Concealed Handgun Permit (ACHP) through the Department of Public Safety. To qualify, an applicant must be at least 21, be an Alaska resident with at least 90 days of residency, be eligible to possess a firearm under state and federal law, have no two-or-more Class A misdemeanor convictions in the prior 6 years, not have been under court-ordered substance-abuse treatment in the prior 3 years, and complete a department-approved handgun competency course within 12 months of application.

"An applicant for a permit to carry a concealed handgun must apply in person at an office of the Alaska State Troopers."

AS 18.65.700 (Permit to carry a concealed handgun) statute

ACHP applicants must submit a certificate of successful completion of a department-approved handgun course completed within 12 months before the application. The course must test the applicant's knowledge of Alaska firearms law and deadly force, safe handgun use, principles of self-defense, and physical handgun competence. Alaska statute does not set a fixed training-hour count; approved courses are typically 4 hours, and online and out-of-state correspondence courses are not accepted.

"An applicant ... must submit a certificate of successful completion of a handgun course that is approved by the department."

AS 18.65.715 (Handgun course) statute

The Alaska Department of Public Safety administers the ACHP through its Permits and Licensing Unit. The new-permit fee is $87 (non-refundable), the timely renewal fee is $25, and the late renewal fee is $50. Permits are valid for five years and expire on the holder's birthday in the fifth year after issuance. Non-resident permits are not issued.

"Be 21 years old or older. Be an Alaska resident and have lived in the state for more than 90 days. No non-resident permits are issued."

Alaska Department of Public Safety — Concealed Handgun Permits ag

AS 18.65.765 is part of the AS 18.65.755 — 18.65.765 group of statutes governing ACHP permittee conduct that out-of-state permittees recognized under AS 18.65.748 are also bound by. Recognized out-of-state permittees and Alaska permit holders are subject to the same rules in this range, including the restricted-places limit in AS 18.65.755 and the conduct provisions in this section. Verbatim statutory text could not be fetched during verification; citation added for cross-reference completeness.

AS 18.65.765 (permittee conduct provisions) statute

Alaska's weapons-misconduct statute criminalizes concealed carry only under specific conditions (under-21 carry; failure to inform officers; carry in restricted places). Open carry is not addressed by AS 11.61.220 or any other state statute, meaning a non-prohibited adult may openly carry a handgun statewide without a permit. The Alaska Department of Public Safety confirms: 'Alaska's laws do not prohibit anyone 21 or older who may legally possess a firearm from carrying it concealed or open.'

"A deadly weapon on a person is concealed if it is covered or enclosed in any manner so that an observer cannot determine that it is a weapon without removing it from that which covers or encloses it."

AS 11.61.220 (open carry not criminalized) statute

Alaska imposes no separate vehicle-carry restriction. A person 21 or older who is not federally prohibited may carry a loaded or unloaded handgun in any compartment of a motor vehicle — glove box, center console, trunk, or on the person — concealed or open, without a permit. The same duty-to-inform rule applies during any peace-officer contact.

"A person commits the crime of misconduct involving weapons in the fifth degree if the person ... is 21 years of age or older and knowingly possesses a deadly weapon ... that is concealed on the person, and, when contacted by a peace officer, the person fails to immediately inform the peace officer of that possession."

AS 11.61.220 (no vehicle-specific restriction) statute

Alaska has no statute that protects employees from adverse employment action for storing a firearm in their personal vehicle in an employer parking lot. Employers may set their own workplace and parking-lot firearm policies. The state's preemption statute (AS 29.35.145) restricts only governmental regulation, not private-employer policy.

"The authority to regulate firearms and knives is reserved to the state."

Alaska — no employer-parking-lot statute ag

A person holding a valid concealed-handgun permit from another state, or a political subdivision of another state, is treated as an Alaska permittee for purposes of AS 18.65.755 through 18.65.765. The permit holder must be 21 or older to be recognized in Alaska — there is no exception for the under-21 permits issued by some other states.

"A person holding a valid permit to carry a concealed handgun from another state or a political subdivision of another state is a permittee under AS 18.65.700(b) for purposes of AS 18.65.755 — 18.65.765."

AS 18.65.748 (out-of-state permits recognized) statute

Alaska recognizes any facially valid concealed-handgun permit from any U.S. state for holders 21 or older. The Alaska Concealed Handgun Permit is recognized by 37 states: AL, AR, AZ, CO, DE, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WV, WI, WY.

"The following states recognize valid Alaska concealed handgun permits: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming."

Alaska Department of Public Safety — Reciprocity List ag

Alaska codifies a castle doctrine: a person has no duty to retreat before using deadly force in self-defense when on premises that the person owns, leases, where the person resides (temporarily or permanently), or where the person is present as a guest or express or implied agent of the owner, lessor, or resident.

"there is no duty to leave the area if the person is ... on premises (A) that the person owns or leases; (B) where the person resides, temporarily or permanently; or (C) as a guest or express or implied agent of the owner, lessor, or resident."

AS 11.81.335(b)(1) statute

Alaska permits the use of deadly force to terminate a burglary in any degree of an occupied dwelling or building by a person in lawful possession of the premises (or that person's guest or agent). Nondeadly force is authorized to terminate criminal trespass.

"A person ... may use nondeadly force ... to terminate ... criminal trespass in any degree ... and may use deadly force ... to terminate ... burglary in any degree ... in occupied dwellings or buildings."

AS 11.81.350(c) statute

Alaska is a stand-your-ground state: a person has no duty to retreat before using deadly force in any place where the person has a right to be. The no-duty-to-retreat language was expanded statewide by HB 24 (Chapter 51 SLA 2013), effective September 18, 2013. The duty-to-retreat exception applies in five enumerated contexts plus 'any other place where the person has a right to be.'

"there is no duty to leave the area if the person is ... in any other place where the person has a right to be."

AS 11.81.335(b)(5) (no duty to retreat in any place where the person has a right to be) statute

Alaska's stand-your-ground expansion was enacted as House Bill 24 of the 28th Legislature, signed by Governor Sean Parnell on June 20, 2013, codified as Chapter 51 SLA 2013, with an effective date of September 18, 2013. The bill caption is 'An Act relating to self-defense in any place where a person has a right to be.'

"An Act relating to self-defense in any place where a person has a right to be."

Chapter 51 SLA 2013 (HB 24) statute

Alaska imposes an affirmative duty to inform: a person 21 or older who is carrying a concealed deadly weapon must, when contacted by a peace officer, immediately inform the officer of that possession. Failure to do so is misconduct involving weapons in the fifth degree, a class B misdemeanor. This rule applies regardless of whether the person holds an ACHP and applies to any peace-officer contact, not solely traffic stops.

"when contacted by a peace officer, the person fails to immediately inform the peace officer of that possession or allow the peace officer to secure the deadly weapon."

AS 11.61.220(a)(1)(A) statute

Possession of a firearm within the grounds of, or on a parking lot immediately adjacent to, a public or private preschool, elementary, junior high, or secondary school without permission of the chief administrative officer is misconduct involving weapons in the second degree, a class B felony.

"within the grounds of or on a parking lot immediately adjacent to a public or private preschool, elementary, junior high, or secondary school without the permission of the chief administrative officer of the school or district."

AS 11.61.195 (Misconduct involving weapons in the second degree — schools) statute

It is a class B misdemeanor to knowingly possess a firearm within the grounds of (or on a parking lot immediately adjacent to) a child care facility other than a private residence, a courtroom or office of the Alaska Court System, a courthouse occupied only by the court system and other justice-related agencies, or a state-funded domestic violence or sexual assault shelter.

"the grounds of, or on a parking lot immediately adjacent to, a child care center (other than a private residence); a courtroom or office of the Alaska Court System, or a courthouse that is occupied only by the Alaska Court System and other justice-related agencies; or a domestic violence or sexual assault shelter."

AS 11.61.220(a)(4) (childcare, courthouse, DV/SA shelter) statute

It is a class B misdemeanor to knowingly possess a loaded firearm on the person in any place where intoxicating liquor is sold for consumption on the premises. AS 11.61.220(d) provides an affirmative defense for an ACHP holder (or out-of-state permittee under AS 18.65.748) carrying a concealed handgun in a restaurant where the carrier does not consume alcohol.

"knowingly possesses a loaded firearm on the person in any place where intoxicating liquor is sold for consumption on the premises."

AS 11.61.220(a)(2) (loaded firearm in liquor establishment) statute

An ACHP permittee may not possess a concealed handgun anywhere a person is prohibited from possessing a handgun under state or federal law. Violation is a class B misdemeanor in addition to any other penalty.

"A permittee may not possess a concealed handgun ... anywhere a person is prohibited from possessing a handgun under state or federal law."

AS 18.65.755 (CHP permittee restricted places) statute

Alaska does not require a state-level background check for private, in-state firearm transfers between unlicensed individuals. Federally licensed dealers must run the federal NICS check through the FBI; Alaska is not a point-of-contact state.

"Under federal law, an unlicensed individual may sell a firearm to another unlicensed individual residing in his or her same state."

18 U.S.C. § 922(t) (federal NICS) / Alaska — no UBC statute atf

Federal law requires that handguns be purchased from a federally licensed dealer only by buyers 21 or older, while long guns may be purchased from an FFL at 18. Private in-state transfers between unlicensed individuals are not governed by these federal FFL minimums. Alaska imposes no additional state purchase-age beyond federal law.

"A licensee may not sell a handgun to anyone under the age of 21. A licensee may not sell a long gun to anyone under the age of 18."

18 U.S.C. § 922(b)(1) (federal) atf

Alaska has no firearm registration requirement. The state preemption statute reserves to the state all authority to regulate firearm registration and bars municipalities from imposing one.

"The authority to regulate firearms and knives is reserved to the state, and, except as specifically provided by statute, a municipality may not enact or enforce an ordinance regulating the possession, ownership, sale, transfer, use, carrying, transportation, licensing, taxation, or registration of firearms or knives."

AS 29.35.145(a) (no state or local registry) statute

Alaska has not enacted an extreme risk protection order (red flag) law. ERPO proposals have been introduced in recent sessions — most recently HB 89 (Gun Violence Protective Orders) introduced in January 2025 in the 34th Legislature — but no such bill has been signed into law.

"An Act relating to gun violence protective orders, to the crime of violating a protective order, and to a central registry for protective orders."

Alaska — no ERPO statute enacted statute

Alaska has no state assault-weapon ban and preempts municipalities from adopting one. Regulation of firearms is reserved exclusively to the state.

"The authority to regulate firearms and knives is reserved to the state, and, except as specifically provided by statute, a municipality may not enact or enforce an ordinance regulating the possession, ownership, sale, transfer, use, carrying, transportation, licensing, taxation, or registration of firearms or knives."

AS 29.35.145 (preemption; no AWB) statute

Alaska imposes no magazine-capacity limit, and the preemption statute bars municipalities from imposing one.

"The authority to regulate firearms and knives is reserved to the state."

AS 29.35.145 (preemption; no capacity statute) statute

Suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and machine guns are regulated under the federal National Firearms Act and require ATF registration.

"The National Firearms Act (NFA) imposes a statutory excise tax on the manufacture and transfer of certain firearms and mandates the registration of those firearms."

26 U.S.C. ch. 53 (National Firearms Act) / ATF atf

Alaska does not prohibit possession of suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, or machine guns at the state level beyond federal NFA compliance. Lawful federal-NFA-compliant possession is permitted statewide.

"A person commits the crime of misconduct involving weapons in the fifth degree if the person ..."

Alaska — no state NFA prohibition statute

Alaska reserves to the state all authority to regulate firearms and knives. Municipalities may not regulate possession, ownership, sale, transfer, use, carrying, transportation, licensing, taxation, or registration. Limited local authority remains: identical-to-state-law ordinances; discharge restrictions in jurisdictions where people, animals, or property would be reasonably jeopardized; zoning of firearm/knife sales; and possession bans in the restricted-access areas of municipal government buildings (with posted notice).

"The authority to regulate firearms and knives is reserved to the state."

AS 29.35.145 statute

Although enacted more than two decades ago, Chapter 62 SLA 2003 (HB 102), effective September 9, 2003, remains the foundational permitless-carry statute for Alaska. It amended AS 11.61.220 so that lawful carry by adults 21 or older — concealed or open — no longer requires a permit, while preserving the optional ACHP for reciprocity and NICS-exemption purposes. The duty-to-inform rule was added in the same act.

"Relating to concealed deadly weapons."

Chapter 62 SLA 2003 (HB 102) statute

Chapter 51 SLA 2013 (HB 24), effective September 18, 2013, amended AS 11.81.335(b) to eliminate the duty to retreat in 'any other place where the person has a right to be,' establishing Alaska as a full stand-your-ground state.

"An Act relating to self-defense in any place where a person has a right to be."

Chapter 51 SLA 2013 (HB 24) statute

Chapter 21 SLA 2023 (HB 61), signed by Governor Mike Dunleavy on July 29, 2023 with an effective date of October 27, 2023, prohibits state and local government entities from closing lawful firearm businesses or restricting access to firearms, ammunition, or component parts during declared states of emergency unless the same restriction applies to all other businesses or commerce. The bill is described as the first major Second Amendment legislation in Alaska in roughly a decade.

"An Act relating to restrictions on firearms and other weapons."

Chapter 21 SLA 2023 (HB 61) statute

Alaska HB 61, signed by Governor Mike Dunleavy on July 29, 2023, prohibits state and local government entities from closing lawful firearm businesses or restricting access to firearms, ammunition, or component parts during declared states of emergency unless the same restriction applies to all other businesses. The bill was a response to pandemic-era closures by the Municipality of Anchorage and is described as Alaska's first major Second Amendment legislation in roughly a decade.

Chapter 21 SLA 2023 (HB 61)

Alaska HB 24, signed by Governor Sean Parnell on June 20, 2013, amended AS 11.81.335(b) to eliminate the duty to retreat in 'any other place where the person has a right to be,' establishing Alaska as a full stand-your-ground state in addition to its pre-existing castle-doctrine protections.

Chapter 51 SLA 2013 (HB 24)

Alaska HB 102, signed by Governor Frank Murkowski on June 11, 2003, amended AS 11.61.220 so that lawful concealed carry of a handgun by an adult 21 or older no longer required a permit. The same act preserved the Alaska Concealed Handgun Permit for reciprocity and NICS-exemption purposes and added the statutory duty to immediately inform a peace officer of concealed possession during a contact. Alaska became the second U.S. state (after Vermont) to adopt permitless carry.

Chapter 62 SLA 2003 (HB 102)