Arkansas Attorney General States Open Carry is Legal

Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge says that as long as you don’t intend to

illegally use a handgun, then, per Act 746 of 2013, open carry on your person or in your

car is perfectly legal. In a letter written while attempting to clear up confusion for gun

owners who want to understand where and when they can legally carry handguns, she

gave this opinion.

She also gave four other important points in the letter:

● Any person who carries a handgun should be aware that a law enforcement

officer might lawfully inquire into that person’s purpose.

● Whether an officer has reasonable suspicion will depend upon a number of

circumstance-specific factors which can include:

â—‹ the demeanor of the suspect

â—‹ the gait and manner of the suspect

â—‹ any information received from third persons

√¢‚Äî‚Äπ the suspect’ s proximity to known criminal conduct.

● Other statutes prohibit possession of a handgun in certain circumstances

regardless of whether a person has the intent to use a handgun unlawfully.

Those statutes still have full force and effect.

● A private property owner or occupant is still entitled to keep handguns (and other

firearms) and persons with handguns (and other firearms) off his, her, or its

property.

● The laws requiring a license to carry a concealed handgun still have full force

and effect.

Her letter was in response to a man who was found guilty of illegally open carrying a

weapon on August 27, 2015. The man was sentenced to 15 days in jail, 1-year

probation, and a $2,160 fine.

Click here to learn more about Arkansas state laws & requirements.