I found out what is involved in obtaining a concealed handgun license in Arkansas. You first have to locate a handgun safety instructor and complete the class. Then you send $144.25 with the completed forms for a new permit, $60.00 if it is a renewal. The specifics are below.
Arkansas does issue carry and conceal weapon (CCW) permits. State law
requires that CCW permits be approved within 120 days unless the
applicant fails to qualify. Arkansas' CCW permit qualifies as a
National Instant Criminal System (NICS) check when buying firearms. The
following steps will show you how to get a concealed weapon permit in
Arkansas.
Step 1:
Be 21 years old to apply for a CCW permit.
Step 2:
Complete an application packet for a Concealed Handgun Permit from the
Arkansas State Police. They can be reached at: Concealed Handgun Permit
Administrator, Arkansas State Police, 1 State Police Plaza Drive,
Little Rock, AR 72209, or you can download the application and
instructions from the Arkansas State Police website at
www.asp.state.ar.us.
Step 3:
Submit the completed application, payment for the license fee, payment
for the fingerprint fee, a full set of fingerprints and a waiver to
allow the police to access your medical records. The permit is good for
four years and a renewal fee will be charged at that time.
Step 4:
Provide a letter of reference from the circuit judge, county sheriff or
prosecuting attorney of your county stating that you are free of any
recent felony convictions if the background check shows any felony
convictions more than 10 years old.
Step 5:
Read Opinion No. 2003-244 at www.state.ar.us that allows city and
county parks to prohibit firearms. Arkansas state law also generally
prohibits concealed handguns in police stations, jails, courthouses,
polling places, government buildings, sporting events, bars, schools,
airports and churches. A premises owner also may post a sign readable
from 10 feet stating that handguns are prohibited.
A Concealed Handgun License holder’s license is subject to immediate
suspension or revocation if:
- License holder is arrested for any violent act.
- License holder is arrested for any felony.
-
It is determined that license holder has been consuming alcoholic
beverages while in possession of a firearm, or if the license holder is
an occupant of a vehicle in which an open container of alcoholic
beverage is present.
- License holder is found to be in possession of a firearm in any location prohibited by law.
- License holder is a fugitive from justice (misdemeanor or felony warrants).
- License holder becomes ineligible due to mental health treatment.
- License holder is convicted of two or more DWI charges within a three-year period.
- License holder is determined to be mentally incompetent.
- License holder is arrested for the illegal possession of a weapon.
- License holder Is found to be carrying a handgun type not authorized.
-
License holder, in the opinion of a chief of police, sheriff or other
law enforcement agency director, becomes a menace or danger to society.
- License holder is determined to have
been arrested for violation of another state's handgun or firearms law.
- It is determined that license holder
has provided false information in obtaining a concealed handgun
license.
Where Concealed Handguns are Prohibited
It
is a violation of the Arkansas Concealed Handgun License law to carry a
concealed handgun into any of the locations listed below:
Any police, sheriff or Arkansas State Police office.
- Arkansas Highway Police facility.
- Detention facility, prison or jail.
- Courthouse or courtroom.
- Any polling place.
- Meeting place of any government entity.
- Meeting place of any session of the Arkansas General Assembly or committee of the General Assembly.
- Any athletic event not related to firearms competition in which the license holder is participating.
- Any
part or section of an establishment licensed to dispense alcoholic
beverages for consumption on the premises, except a restaurant.
- Any part of section of an establishment in which alcohol is consumed on the premises, except a restaurant.
- Any
school, college, community college, or university campus building or
school/college event unless the event is for the purpose of
participating in an authorized firearms related activity.
- Inside the passenger terminal of any airport, unless the handgun is encased for shipment by lawful transportation.
- Any church or other place of worship.
- Any place where the possession of firearms is prohibited by federal law.
- Any place where a property owner or manager has exercised discretion to prohibit the possession of a firearm.
- Participating in a parade or demonstration for which a permit is required.
- At
a private residence without having first advised the occupants that the
license holder is carrying a concealed weapon and given the permission
to carry the handgun.