On November 14, 2025, the Arkansas Attorney General (AG), Tim Griffin, clarified Arkansas law about the legal carry of firearms. The three questions to be answered included: publicly owned buildings or facilities, the legal definition of an “athletic event” in Arkansas law, and what type of carry is prohibited in statutorily prohibited spaces. The questions were asked by the Honorable Sonia Eubanks Barker, a Republican state representative with a pro-Second Amendment reputation.
AG opinions are not binding on judges. They are statements of what the Attorney General believes the law to be. They are often taken into account by prosecutors when determining whether to prosecute in a given circumstance.
AG Griffin’s response was detailed and encyclopedic. It is well-crafted and an excellent read. The response explains Arkansas’s statutory law about the carry of firearms in considerable detail. The response also explains some of the intricacies of law and statutory interpretation. In addition to the lengthy response, the AG provides brief summaries of his findings. AG Griffin found:
- Arkansas statutes do not prohibit the open carry of firearms in municipal parks or athletic events. The statutes prohibit concealed carry at athletic events, and both open and concealed carry in municipal buildings and facilities unless the person has a endorsement to the Arkansas Concealed Carry permit showing they completed required training.
- Athletic event is defined. “athletic event” refers to organized sports activities—such as games, contests, or practices affiliated with school, leagues, or other entities—and does not include unorganized play.”
- The prohibited places list for concealed carry in A.C.A. § 5-73-306 only applies to people carrying concealed weapons. There are numerous other statutes which contain more general prohibitions on the carry of weapons generally, whether openly or concealed. People with the endorsed Arkansas Concealed Carry permit are exempted from many of the prohibitions on concealed carry in A.C.A. § 5-73-306.
The laws governing where loaded concealed firearms may be legally carried in Arkansas have a long history as the legislature struggled to reform old laws to be more compliant with the Second Amendment. Arkansas today is a Constitutional Carry state. Individuals who are legally permitted to own firearms may carry handguns in most public places, openly or concealed, without a permit. The intricacies of the law are in the areas where the legislature has designated that loaded firearms are not legally permitted at this time.
The Arkansas Legislature has approved a ballot measure to amend the Arkansas state Constitution with a strong protection of the right to keep and bear arms.
The statutes referred to by Arkansas AG Griffin were enacted, in large part, as incremental changes to reduce the number of “gun free” zones in the state of Arkansas. A person who intends to carry firearms for defense of self and others in Arkansas is advised to read the statutes and read AG Griffin’s opinion on the statutes. Such reading will help to educate them about areas where carry of firearms are prohibited.
Obtaining a state endorsement on an Arkansas Concealed Carry permit significantly reduces the number of prohibited places in Arkansas law. The endorsement is available through certified Arkansas firearm safety instructors and requires eight hours of training including live fire. The courses cost about $100 to $150 and require at least 100 rounds of ammunition. Renewal of the license is required every five years. A renewal course is required, which is reported to take about 30 minutes for a fee of about $40. Arkansas permits/licenses are only available to Arkansas residents.
About Dean Weingarten:
Dean Weingarten has been a peace officer, a military officer, was on the University of Wisconsin Pistol Team for four years, and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1973. He taught the Arizona concealed carry course for fifteen years until the goal of Constitutional Carry was attained. He has degrees in meteorology and mining engineering, and retired from the Department of Defense after a 30 year career in Army Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation.
IMO this is stupid. What happens if the majority votes NO!!!! Them voting on my right to carry wherever I am whenever I want, is not only constitutionally wrong but at best is still an infringement of my right to bear arms. My right is not to be voted on and is not to be determined by a goberment that has denied the right for years with one of its infringements implemented in 1934 or it’s people. I guess they don’t read what is happening in other states like OreGONEistan. To me, this is just a ploy to make sure… Read more »