Arkansas Gun Laws

Act 746 of 2013 (HB 1700, approved April 4, 2013, effective August 16, 2013) amended Ark. Code § 5-73-120(a) to require, as an element of the offense of 'carrying a weapon,' that the person possess the handgun 'with a purpose to attempt to unlawfully employ' it as a weapon against another person. The Arkansas Court of Appeals later held in Taff v. State, No. CR-18-353 (Oct. 17, 2018), that mere possession of a handgun without unlawful purpose does not violate § 5-73-120(a). Act 777 of 2023 codified the practical result by adding § 5-73-328.

"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."

Act 746 of 2013 (HB 1700), amending Ark. Code § 5-73-120(a) statute

Act 777 of 2023 (SB 480, approved April 12, 2023) added Ark. Code § 5-73-328, which expressly states that the concealed-handgun-licensing subchapter exists solely to facilitate out-of-state reciprocity and does not require a person to obtain a license to carry a concealed handgun in Arkansas. This act codified the result that had developed through Act 746 (2013) and Taff v. State (2018).

"The purpose of this subchapter is solely to establish concealed carry licensing for the purpose of providing licensees reciprocity in other states that require a license to carry a concealed handgun in order to carry a concealed handgun. This subchapter does not require a person to obtain a license to carry a concealed handgun in order to carry a concealed handgun in this state."

Act 777 of 2023 (SB 480), creating Ark. Code § 5-73-328 statute

The current consolidated text of § 5-73-120 (reflecting amendments through 2025) preserves the unlawful-purpose mens rea added by Act 746 and lists statutory presumptions of lawful purpose — including possession in one's dwelling, vehicle, or place of business, on a journey, by CHCL holders under § 5-73-301 et seq., and by certain other categories. The Justia mirror is used here because the Arkansas Acts archive serves bills/acts rather than a consolidated current code page; this text has been cross-verified against Act 746 itself.

"A person is presumed to be carrying a weapon with a lawful purpose under this section if at the time of the act of carrying the weapon: (1) The person is in his or her own dwelling, in his or her personal vehicle, in his or her place of business, or on property in which he or she has a possessory or proprietary interest."

Ark. Code § 5-73-120 (current consolidated text) secondary

The Director of the Arkansas State Police shall issue a Concealed Handgun Carry License to an applicant who, among other criteria, is a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident, has been a state resident for at least 90 days (with active-duty military exceptions), is at least 21 years of age (or 18 if currently serving or honorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces, National Guard, or Reserves), is not a federally prohibited person, has satisfactorily completed an approved training course, and signs an oath of allegiance.

"Is at least: (A) Twenty-one (21) years of age; or (B) Eighteen (18) years of age and is: (i) Currently a federally recognized commissioned or noncommissioned officer or an enlisted member on active duty in the United States Armed Forces; (ii) In the National Guard or a reserve component of the United States Armed Forces; or (iii) A former member of the United States Armed Forces who has been honorably discharged."

Ark. Code § 5-73-309 (License requirements) secondary

The Arkansas State Police Concealed Handgun Carry Licensing Unit administers the standard CHCL and the Enhanced (campus-carry) endorsement. The standard CHCL training course is approximately 8 hours including a live-fire qualification, and the Enhanced endorsement requires an additional course of up to 8 hours under § 5-73-322(g). Online application and renewal are the agency's preferred method. The CHCL is valid for five (5) years.

"Effective August 16, 2013, the State of Arkansas acknowledges all concealed handgun carry licenses lawfully issued by another state."

Arkansas State Police — Concealed Handgun Carry Licensing ag

Ark. Code § 5-73-301 contains the definitions for the Concealed Handgun Carry License subchapter (§§ 5-73-301 through 5-73-329), including definitions of 'concealed,' 'handgun,' and 'licensee.' The subchapter as a whole establishes the CHCL framework administered by the Director of the Arkansas State Police and provides the statutory basis referenced by § 5-73-120 (presumption of lawful purpose for license holders) and by 18 U.S.C. § 922(t)(3) (federal NICS alternative-document provision) when a current Arkansas CHCL is presented at the point of an FFL handgun purchase.

Ark. Code § 5-73-301 et seq. (Concealed Handgun Carry License subchapter — definitions and scope) secondary

Open carry of a handgun in Arkansas is governed by the same carrying-a-weapon statute as concealed carry. Because § 5-73-120(a) requires unlawful purpose, an adult who can legally possess a firearm may openly carry without a permit, subject to § 5-73-306 and § 5-73-119 prohibited-place rules.

"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."

Ark. Code § 5-73-120(a) (as amended by Act 746) statute

A person is presumed to be carrying a weapon with a lawful purpose under § 5-73-120 when the person is in his or her own personal vehicle, in his or her dwelling, on property in which he or she has a possessory or proprietary interest, or carrying a weapon when upon a journey (defined as travel beyond the county in which the person lives). Combined with the § 5-73-120(a) requirement of unlawful purpose for the offense, this allows loaded handgun transport in the glove box, console, or trunk of a personal vehicle without a permit. The Justia mirror reflects the current consolidated text; the underlying presumption framework dates from Act 746 (2013) and was strengthened by 2021 Acts 766 and 956.

"A person is presumed to be carrying a weapon with a lawful purpose under this section if at the time of the act of carrying the weapon: (1) The person is in his or her own dwelling, in his or her personal vehicle, in his or her place of business, or on property in which he or she has a possessory or proprietary interest... (4) The person is carrying a weapon when upon a journey."

Ark. Code § 5-73-120(c)(1)–(4) (presumptions of lawful purpose) secondary

Act 809 of 2021 (SB 555) repealed the prior licensee-only parking-lot statute (§ 5-73-326) and replaced it with a broader Ark. Code § 11-5-117 that protects ANY employee — regardless of CHCL status — from a private employer's ban on transporting or storing a legally owned firearm in the employee's private motor vehicle in the employer's parking lot, provided the firearm is lawfully possessed and stored out of sight inside a locked vehicle. Employers retain limited exclusions (e.g., the lot is on the grounds of a single-family residence in residential use, the employee is in illegal possession, the employee is in an employer-owned vehicle in the course of duty, or the employee is the subject of an active disciplinary proceeding). Department of Corrections parking lots are expressly excluded from coverage.

"A private employer shall not prohibit an employee from transporting or storing a legally owned firearm in the employee's private motor vehicle in the private employer's parking lot when the firearm is: (1) Lawfully possessed; and (2) Stored out of sight inside a locked private motor vehicle."

Ark. Code § 11-5-117 (created by Act 809 of 2021) statute

Ark. Code § 5-73-326 was the prior parking-lot protection limited to CHCL holders. Act 809 of 2021 (SB 555) repealed § 5-73-326 and re-enacted the protection in broader form at Ark. Code § 11-5-117, which extends the protection to any employee regardless of CHCL status so long as the firearm is lawfully possessed and stored out of sight inside a locked private motor vehicle. The repeal of § 5-73-326 is the operative reason the modern parking-lot protection no longer turns on whether the employee holds a license.

Ark. Code § 5-73-326 (Repealed by Act 809 of 2021 — prior CHCL-only parking-lot statute) statute

Arkansas Code § 5-73-321 provides that a person in possession of a valid license to carry a concealed handgun issued by another state is entitled to the privileges and subject to the restrictions of the Arkansas CHCL subchapter. The Arkansas State Police confirms on its CHCL Unit page that, effective August 16, 2013, Arkansas recognizes all concealed handgun carry licenses lawfully issued by another state. AR-permit reciprocity in the other direction is determined by each receiving state's law; the Arkansas State Police does not publish its own outbound reciprocity matrix and directs travelers to verify each destination state.

"A person in possession of a valid license to carry a concealed handgun issued to the person by another state is entitled to the privileges and subject to the restrictions prescribed by this subchapter."

Ark. Code § 5-73-321 (Recognition of other states' licenses) secondary

Arkansas's castle doctrine, embedded in the use-of-deadly-physical-force statute as amended by Act 250 of 2021, provides that a person is not required to retreat before using deadly force if the person is lawfully present, has a reasonable belief that the other person is imminently threatening death or serious physical injury, is not the initial aggressor, is not committing a felony possession-of-firearm offense (with a home/curtilage exception), and is not engaged in criminal activity or in furtherance of a criminal gang or enterprise.

"A person is not required to retreat before using deadly physical force if the person: (1) Is lawfully present at the location where deadly physical force is used; (2) Has a reasonable belief that the person against whom the deadly physical force is used is imminently threatening to cause death or serious physical injury to the person or another person."

Ark. Code § 5-2-607(b) statute

Act 250 of 2021 (SB 24, approved March 3, 2021, effective July 28, 2021) added stand-your-ground language to both the use-of-physical-force statute (§ 5-2-606(c)) and the use-of-deadly-physical-force statute (§ 5-2-607(b)). A person who is lawfully present, not engaged in criminal activity giving rise to the need to use force, and not engaged in any activity in furtherance of a criminal gang, organization, or enterprise has no duty to retreat before using or threatening force, including deadly force.

"A person who uses or threatens to use physical force as otherwise permitted under this subchapter does not have a duty to retreat before using or threatening to use the physical force if the person is: (1) Lawfully present in the location; (2) Not engaged in criminal activity that gives rise to the need to use physical force; and (3) Not engaged in any activity in furtherance of a criminal gang, organization, or enterprise as defined under § 5-74-103."

Ark. Code § 5-2-606(c) and § 5-2-607(b) (as amended by Act 250 of 2021, SB 24) statute

Ark. Code § 5-2-615 is a conforming justification statute providing a pregnant-woman defense within the use-of-force subchapter. Act 250 of 2021 (Stand-Your-Ground) made conforming amendments to § 5-2-615 alongside its substantive amendments to §§ 5-2-606 and 5-2-607 so that the no-duty-to-retreat framework operates consistently across the subchapter. The section's substantive scope is narrow and applies only within Title 5, Subtitle 1 (criminal-justice general provisions).

Ark. Code § 5-2-615 (Justification — defense by a pregnant woman) secondary

Ark. Code § 5-74-103 contains the definitions used in the Arkansas Criminal Gang, Organization, or Enterprise Act, including the term 'criminal gang, organization, or enterprise' that is incorporated by reference into the stand-your-ground exclusions at §§ 5-2-606(c) and 5-2-607(b). A person who is engaged in any activity in furtherance of a criminal gang, organization, or enterprise as defined under § 5-74-103 loses the no-duty-to-retreat protection added by Act 250 of 2021.

Ark. Code § 5-74-103 (Definition — criminal gang, organization, or enterprise) secondary

Arkansas State Police administrative rule 5 CAR § 1-201 requires a CHCL holder who is in possession of a handgun and who is asked by a law enforcement officer for identification to present the license and to notify the officer that the licensee holds a concealed handgun carry license and has a handgun in his or her possession. The rule does not apply when the licensee is not in possession of a handgun at the time of contact. This is an administrative-rule duty to disclose imposed on permit holders and tied to the obligation to carry the license while armed.

"While in possession of a handgun, if a licensee is asked for identification (driver's license or personal information, such as name and date of birth) by any law enforcement officer, the licensee shall present the original license, or an electronic copy in an acceptable electronic format, for inspection, along with an official form of photo identification. The licensee shall also notify the officer that he or she holds a concealed handgun carry license and that he or she has a handgun in his or her possession."

5 CAR § 1-201 (AR State Police administrative rule) ag

Ark. Code § 5-73-306 lists the places where a CHCL holder may not carry a concealed handgun, including police/sheriff stations, Arkansas Highway Police facilities, detention facilities and prisons, courthouses and courtrooms (with narrow exceptions for designated personnel and judges), meeting places of any governmental entity, state offices, athletic events not related to firearms, portions of alcoholic-beverage establishments other than restaurants as defined in § 3-5-1202, K-12 and college/university campuses (subject to the Enhanced endorsement under § 5-73-322), passenger terminals of airports (parking lots excluded), churches that have not opted in, places where firearms are prohibited by federal law, and posted private property meeting the statute's signage requirements. Act 809 of 2021 amended subdivision (18) governing posted-private-property rules.

"Except as permitted under § 5-73-322(g), a license to carry a concealed handgun issued under this subchapter does not authorize person to carry a concealed handgun into: (1) Any police station, sheriff's station, or Division of Arkansas State Police station... (5) Any courthouse, courthouse annex, or other building owned, leased, or regularly used by a county for conducting court proceedings or housing a county office."

Ark. Code § 5-73-306 (Prohibited places for CHCL holders) statute

Ark. Code § 5-73-119(b) makes it unlawful for any person to possess a firearm on the developed property of a public or private K-12 school, on a school bus, or at a designated bus stop, subject to enumerated exceptions in § 5-73-119(e). Limited exceptions apply for CHCL holders who store a concealed handgun in a locked, unattended vehicle in a publicly owned parking lot, and for certain personnel acting in their official capacity.

"No person in this state shall possess a firearm: (A) Upon the developed property of a public or private school, kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12); (B) In or upon any school bus; or (C) At a designated bus stop as identified on the route list published by a school district each year."

Ark. Code § 5-73-119 (Handguns — Possession on School Property) statute

Ark. Code § 5-73-322 allows a CHCL holder who has completed an additional training course of up to 8 hours (the 'Enhanced' endorsement) to carry a concealed handgun in the buildings and on the grounds of a public university, public college, or community college. Storage in a university-operated dormitory or residence hall is still prohibited. Private universities and colleges may opt out by posting under § 5-73-306(18). Enhanced-endorsement holders may also carry in certain publicly owned buildings under § 5-73-122(a)(3)(D).

"A licensee who has completed the training required under subsection (g) of this section may possess a concealed handgun in the buildings and on the grounds of a public university, public college, or community college."

Ark. Code § 5-73-322 (Enhanced campus carry endorsement) secondary

Ark. Code § 3-5-1202 defines 'restaurant' for purposes of Arkansas alcoholic-beverage law as an establishment with a kitchen and dining area that serves prepared meals to seated patrons and meets a minimum seating-capacity threshold (commonly cited as at least 50 persons). The definition is incorporated by reference into § 5-73-306(11)–(12), which exempts qualifying restaurants from the CHCL prohibition on carry in alcoholic-beverage establishments. Bars and clubs that do not meet the § 3-5-1202 'restaurant' definition remain off-limits to CHCL carry.

Ark. Code § 3-5-1202 (Definition of 'restaurant' for alcoholic-beverage law) secondary

Ark. Code § 5-73-122 governs carrying a firearm in publicly owned buildings or facilities. Subsection (a)(3)(D) of § 5-73-122 is cross-referenced by § 5-73-322 to authorize CHCL holders with the Enhanced endorsement to carry in certain publicly owned buildings that would otherwise be off-limits. The general rule of § 5-73-122 still prohibits firearms in many state and local government buildings, with carve-outs for law-enforcement officers, judicial officers, CHCL holders entering posted areas, and Enhanced-endorsement holders in the specific publicly owned facilities identified in subsection (a)(3)(D).

Ark. Code § 5-73-122 (Carrying a firearm in publicly owned buildings or facilities) secondary

Ark. Code § 5-73-325 authorizes the Division of Arkansas State Police to approve specific 'firearm-sensitive areas' where even an Enhanced-endorsement CHCL holder may not carry. The statute is narrowly drawn and currently covers the Arkansas State Hospital, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and collegiate athletic events. Designation requires a written security plan and ASP approval; once approved, the location is off-limits to concealed carry by all CHCL holders, including Enhanced-endorsement holders authorized to carry on public-college and public-university grounds under § 5-73-322.

Ark. Code § 5-73-325 (Firearm-sensitive area designation — Arkansas State Police approval) secondary

Arkansas relies on the federal National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) for firearm sales through federally licensed dealers. Arkansas state law does not impose a universal background check requirement; private, in-state firearm transfers between non-prohibited adults are not subject to a state-mandated background check. A CHCL issued under Ark. Code § 5-73-301 et seq. satisfies the alternative-document provision for NICS exemption at the point of sale under 18 U.S.C. § 922(t)(3).

"The NICS provides full-time service to Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) so that they may instantly determine via telephone or other electronic means whether the transfer of a firearm would be in violation of state or federal law."

18 U.S.C. § 922(t) (Federal NICS) / Arkansas State Police 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. Arkansas imposes no additional state purchase-age beyond federal law, although possession by minors is regulated separately (e.g., § 5-73-119 for school property and § 5-73-120 for under-18 'journey' carve-outs).

"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

Arkansas has no state firearm-registration requirement. The state's strong preemption framework — Ark. Code §§ 14-16-504 and 14-54-1411 — bars cities, counties, and other local units of government from regulating the ownership, possession, or transfer of firearms, ammunition, or components, which includes any local registry. The Arkansas Sovereignty Act (Act 1012 of 2021) further declares that federal restrictions on the manufacture, ownership, and use of firearms exclusively within Arkansas are 'unauthoritative, void, and of no force.'

"The General Assembly denies any claim that the taxing and spending powers of the United States Congress can be used to diminish in any way the people's right to keep and bear arms."

Ark. Code § 14-16-504 / § 14-54-1411 (preemption) statute

Arkansas has not enacted an extreme-risk protection order (ERPO/red-flag) law. The Arkansas Sovereignty Act (Act 1012 of 2021, codified as Ark. Code § 1-6-101 et seq.) declares federal firearm bans, orders, and regulations exclusively within Arkansas to be void within the state, and the General Assembly's preemption framework reserves firearm regulation to the state.

"Such statutes, orders, rules, regulations, and other actions exceed the powers granted to the United States Government except to the extent that they are necessary and proper for the United States Government and regulation of the land and naval forces of the United States Armed Forces."

Arkansas Code Title 5, Chapter 73 — no extreme-risk protection-order statute statute

Arkansas has no state assault-weapon ban. The preemption statutes at Ark. Code §§ 14-16-504 and 14-54-1411 reserve to the General Assembly the regulation of firearms, ammunition, and components, preventing local governments from enacting an assault-weapon ban.

"The people of Arkansas have vested the General Assembly with the authority to regulate the manufacture, possession, exchange, and use of firearms within this state's borders, subject only to the limits imposed by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and Arkansas Constitution."

Ark. Code §§ 14-16-504 and 14-54-1411 (preemption) statute

Arkansas imposes no magazine-capacity limit, and the preemption statutes at Ark. Code §§ 14-16-504 and 14-54-1411 prevent local governments from imposing one. The Arkansas Sovereignty Act (Act 1012 of 2021) further declares federal firearm restrictions enforced exclusively within Arkansas to be void within the state.

"A local unit of government shall not enact an ordinance or regulation pertaining to, or regulate in any other manner, the ownership, transfer, transportation, carrying, or possession of: (i) Firearms; (ii) Ammunition for firearms; (iii) Components of firearms."

Ark. Code §§ 14-16-504 and 14-54-1411 (preemption); no capacity statute statute

Suppressors, short-barreled rifles (SBRs), short-barreled shotguns (SBSs), and machine guns are regulated under the federal National Firearms Act and require ATF registration. Arkansas does not impose an additional state ban on NFA items beyond federal law; Ark. Code § 5-73-202 et seq. addresses machine guns, with possession permitted when in compliance with federal NFA 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

Ark. Code § 5-73-202 and the surrounding sections in subchapter 2 govern machine guns at the state level in Arkansas. State law permits possession of a machine gun when the possessor is in compliance with the federal National Firearms Act registration requirements; Arkansas does not impose an independent state ban or additional registration beyond federal law for NFA-regulated items.

Ark. Code § 5-73-202 et seq. (Machine guns — state framework) secondary

Ark. Code § 14-16-504 (counties) and § 14-54-1411 (municipalities) prohibit a local unit of government — defined as a city, town, or county — from enacting an ordinance or regulation pertaining to or otherwise regulating the ownership, transfer, transportation, carrying, or possession of firearms, ammunition, components of firearms, knives, or knife-making components, except an ordinance regulating the unsafe discharge of a firearm. The Arkansas Sovereignty Act (Act 1012 of 2021) added a parallel state-sovereignty layer against federal firearm restrictions enforced exclusively within Arkansas. Under emergency declared by the Governor, a local unit of government may not enact emergency firearm ordinances (added in 2025).

"Except as otherwise provided in state or federal law, a local unit of government shall not enact an ordinance or regulation pertaining to, or regulate in any other manner, the ownership, transfer, transportation, carrying, or possession of: (i) Firearms; (ii) Ammunition for firearms; (iii) Components of firearms; (iv) Knives; or (v) Knife-making components."

Ark. Code § 14-16-504 (Regulation by local unit of government) statute

Act 250 of 2021 (SB 24, approved March 3, 2021, effective July 28, 2021) added no-duty-to-retreat language to Ark. Code §§ 5-2-606 (use of physical force) and 5-2-607 (use of deadly physical force) and conformed the related § 5-2-615 (defense by a pregnant woman).

"A person who uses or threatens to use physical force as otherwise permitted under this subchapter does not have a duty to retreat before using or threatening to use the physical force."

Act 250 of 2021 (Stand-Your-Ground) statute

Act 809 of 2021 (SB 555, effective July 28, 2021) repealed the prior CHCL-only parking-lot protection at Ark. Code § 5-73-326 and replaced it with Ark. Code § 11-5-117, which extends the protection to ANY employee (not only license holders) so long as the firearm is lawfully possessed and stored out of sight inside a locked private motor vehicle.

"A private employer shall not prohibit an employee from transporting or storing a legally owned firearm in the employee's private motor vehicle in the private employer's parking lot when the firearm is: (1) Lawfully possessed; and (2) Stored out of sight inside a locked private motor vehicle."

Act 809 of 2021 (Private Employer Parking Lot — Ark. Code § 11-5-117) statute

Act 1012 of 2021 (HB 1957, approved April 28, 2021) enacted the Arkansas Sovereignty Act of 2021 at Ark. Code § 1-6-101 et seq., declaring that federal firearm restrictions enforced exclusively within Arkansas are 'unauthoritative, void, and of no force' and prohibiting state and local agencies from enforcing certain federal firearm restrictions. Portions of the act mirror the federal Tenth Amendment analysis and have not been judicially tested for the broader implementation provisions.

"Whenever the United States Government assumes powers that the people did not grant it in the United States Constitution, its acts are unauthoritative, void, and of no force."

Act 1012 of 2021 (Arkansas Sovereignty Act — Second Amendment Preservation) statute

Act 777 of 2023 (SB 480, approved April 12, 2023) added Ark. Code § 5-73-328, expressly declaring that the concealed-handgun-licensing subchapter exists solely to facilitate out-of-state reciprocity and does not require a person to obtain a license to carry a concealed handgun in Arkansas. This codified the result that had developed from Act 746 (2013) and the Arkansas Court of Appeals' 2018 Taff decision.

"This subchapter does not require a person to obtain a license to carry a concealed handgun in order to carry a concealed handgun in this state."

Act 777 of 2023 (Codification of permitless carry — Ark. Code § 5-73-328) statute

Act 777 (SB 480, approved April 12, 2023) added Ark. Code § 5-73-328, expressly declaring that the concealed-handgun-licensing subchapter exists solely to facilitate out-of-state reciprocity and does not require a person to obtain a license to carry a concealed handgun in Arkansas. This codified the result that had developed through Act 746 (2013) and the Taff (2018) decision.

Act 777 of 2023 (SB 480)

Act 250 (SB 24, approved March 3, 2021) amended Ark. Code §§ 5-2-606 and 5-2-607 to add no-duty-to-retreat language. A person who is lawfully present, not engaged in criminal activity giving rise to the need to use force, and not engaged in furtherance of a criminal gang or enterprise has no duty to retreat before using or threatening force, including deadly force.

Act 250 of 2021 (SB 24)

Act 809 (SB 555) repealed the prior CHCL-only parking-lot statute (§ 5-73-326) and replaced it with the broader Ark. Code § 11-5-117, which protects any employee — regardless of license status — from a private employer's ban on transporting or storing a legally owned firearm in the employee's private motor vehicle in the employer's parking lot, when stored out of sight inside a locked vehicle.

Act 809 of 2021 (SB 555)

Act 1012 (HB 1957, approved April 28, 2021) enacted the Arkansas Sovereignty Act of 2021 at Ark. Code § 1-6-101 et seq., declaring that federal firearm restrictions enforced exclusively within Arkansas are 'unauthoritative, void, and of no force' within the state and prohibiting state and local agencies from enforcing certain federal firearm restrictions. The act's broader implementation provisions have not been judicially tested in their entirety.

Act 1012 of 2021 (HB 1957)

Act 746 (HB 1700, approved April 4, 2013) amended Ark. Code § 5-73-120(a) to require, as an element of the offense, that a person possess the handgun 'with a purpose to attempt to unlawfully employ' it as a weapon against another person. The Arkansas Court of Appeals later interpreted this in Taff v. State (Oct. 17, 2018) to mean that mere possession does not violate the statute.

Act 746 of 2013 (HB 1700)