Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 5 - CRIMINAL OFFENSES (§§ 5-1-101 — 5-79-101) › Subtitle 6 - OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, OR WELFARE (§§ 5-60-101 — 5-79-101) › Chapter 73 - WEAPONS (§§ 5-73-101 — 5-73-402) › Subchapter 1 - POSSESSION AND USE GENERALLY (§§ 5-73-101 — 5-73-133) › Section 5-73-122 - Carrying a firearm in publicly owned buildings or facilities

(a)
(1)
Except as provided in §
5-73-322
, §
5-73-306(5)
, §
16-21-147
, and this section, it is unlawful for a person other than a law enforcement officer, either on-duty or off-duty, a security guard in the employ of the state or an agency of the state or any city or county, a member of a municipal fire department bomb squad who is authorized to carry a concealed handgun under §
12-15-204
, or any state or federal military personnel, to knowingly carry or possess a loaded firearm or other deadly weapon in any publicly owned building or facility or on the State Capitol grounds.
(2)
It is unlawful for any person other than a law enforcement officer, either on-duty or off-duty, a security guard in the employ of the state or an agency of the state or any city or county, a member of a municipal fire department bomb squad who is authorized to carry a concealed handgun under §
12-15-204
, or any state or federal military personnel, to knowingly carry or possess a firearm, whether loaded or unloaded, in the State Capitol Building or the Arkansas Justice Building in Little Rock.
(3)
However, this subsection does not apply to a person carrying or possessing a firearm or other deadly weapon in a publicly owned building or facility or on the State Capitol grounds:
(A)
For the purpose of participating in a shooting match or target practice under the auspices of the agency responsible for the publicly owned building or facility or State Capitol grounds;
(B)
If necessary to participate in a trade show, exhibit, or educational course conducted in the publicly owned building or facility or on the State Capitol grounds;
(C)
(i)
If the person has a license to carry a concealed handgun under §
5-73-301
et seq. and is carrying a concealed handgun in his or her motor vehicle or has left the concealed handgun in his or her locked and unattended motor vehicle in a publicly owned and maintained parking lot.
(ii)
(a)
As used in this subdivision (a)(3)(C), "parking lot" means a designated area or structure or part of a structure intended for the parking of motor vehicles or a designated drop-off zone for children at school.
(b)
"Parking lot" does not include a parking lot owned, maintained, or otherwise controlled by:
(1)
The Division of Correction;
(2)
The Division of Community Correction; or
(3)
A residential treatment facility owned or operated by the Division of Youth Services;
(D)
If the person has completed the required training and received a concealed carry endorsement under §
5-73-322(g)
and the place is not:
(i)
A courtroom or the location of an administrative hearing conducted by a state agency, except as permitted by §
5-73-306(5)
or §
5-73-306(6)
;
(ii)
A public school kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12), a public prekindergarten, or a public daycare facility, except as permitted under subdivision (a)(3)(C) of this section;
(iii)
A facility operated by the Division of Correction or the Division of Community Correction; or
(iv)
A posted firearm-sensitive area, as approved by the Division of Arkansas State Police under §
5-73-325
, located at:
(a)
The Arkansas State Hospital;
(b)
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; or
(c)
A collegiate athletic event;
(E)
If the person has a license to carry a concealed handgun under §
5-73-301
et seq., is a justice of the Supreme Court or a judge on the Court of Appeals, and is carrying a concealed handgun in the Arkansas Justice Building; or
(F)
If the person has a license to carry a concealed handgun under §
5-73-301
et seq. and is carrying a concealed handgun in a municipally owned or maintained park, or another similar municipally owned or maintained recreational property, except for those portions of a municipally owned or maintained park or recreational property that contain a:
(i)
Football field, baseball field, soccer field, or other sports field where an athletic event or practice is occurring at the time;
(ii)
Municipally owned or maintained building; or
(iii)
Leased area to be used for a special event.
(4)
As used in this section, "facility" does not mean a municipally owned or maintained park, football field, baseball field, soccer field, or another similar municipally owned or maintained recreational structure or property.
(b)
However, a law enforcement officer, either on-duty or off-duty, officer of the court, bailiff, or other person authorized by the court is permitted to possess a handgun in the courtroom of any court or a courthouse of this state.
(c)
A person violating this section upon conviction is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.
(d)
An off-duty law enforcement officer carrying a firearm in a publicly owned building or facility may be required to be in physical possession of a valid identification identifying the person as a law enforcement officer.
(e)
An off-duty law enforcement officer may not carry a firearm into a courtroom if the off-duty law enforcement officer is a party to or a witness in a civil or criminal matter unless the law provides otherwise.
Amended by Act 2023, No. 166,§ 3, eff. 8/1/2023.
Amended by Act 2021, No. 693,§ 1, eff. 7/28/2021.
Amended by Act 2021, No. 638,§ 1, eff. 7/28/2021.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 431,§ 1, eff. 7/24/2019.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 681, eff. 7/1/2019.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 680, eff. 7/1/2019.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 472,§ 5, eff. 3/15/2019.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 472,§ 4, eff. 3/15/2019.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 472,§ 3, eff. 3/15/2019.
Amended by Act 2017, No. 859,§ 2, eff. 9/1/2017.
Amended by Act 2017, No. 562,§ 1, eff. 9/1/2017.
Amended by Act 2017, No. 1087,§ 1, eff. 8/1/2017.
Amended by Act 2015, No. 1259,§ 1, eff. 7/22/2015.
Amended by Act 2015, No. 1078,§ 2, eff. 7/22/2015.
Amended by Act 2013, No. 226,§ 2, eff. 8/16/2013.
Acts 1977, No. 549, §§ 1, 2; A.S.A. 1947, §§ 41-3113, 41-3114; Acts 1991, No. 1044, § 1; 1995, No. 1223, § 1; 1997, No. 910, § 1.