Alaska Gun Laws
Gun Laws Overview
RIFLES & SHOTGUNS | HANDGUNS | |
---|---|---|
Licensing of Owners | No | No |
Permit to Purchase | No | No |
Registration of Firearms | No | No |
* A permit to carry a concealed handgun is not necessary in Alaska, but permits are available to those who want to carry in states that recognize Alaska permits. Per AS § 18.65.748, a person holding a valid permit to carry a concealed handgun from another state or a political subdivision of another state is a recognized permitee under Alaska law for purposes of carrying a concealed handgun. The list and map below are included as a tool to assist you in validating your information. We have made every effort to report the information correctly, however reciprocity and recognition agreements are subject to frequent change. The information is not intended as legal advice or a restatement of law and does not include: restrictions that may be placed on non-resident permits, individuals under the age of 21, qualifying permit classes, and/or any other factor which may limit reciprocity and/or recognition. For any particular situation, a licensed local attorney must be consulted for an accurate interpretation. YOU MUST ABIDE WITH ALL LAWS: STATE, FEDERAL AND LOCAL. |
STATE STATUS | |
---|---|
Castle Doctrine | Enacted |
No-Net Loss | No Legislation |
Right to Carry Confidentiality | Provisions Enacted |
Right To Carry Laws | No Permit Required |
Right to Carry in Restaurants | Partial Ban |
Right To Carry Reciprocity and Recognition | Outright Recognition |
Right to Keep & Bear Arms State Constitutional Provisions | With Provisions |
Laws on Purchase, Possession and Carrying of Firearms
Antiques and Replicas
State law is silent on antique and replica firearms therefore they must be treated as ordinary firearms for possession and carrying purposes. |
Carrying
Any person 21 years of age or older may carry a handgun concealed on their person provided that, when contacted by a police officer, informs the officer of that possession and allows the police officer to secure the handgun for the duration of that contact. MORE |
Machine Guns
A machine gun is defined as a firearm that is capable of shooting more than one shot automatically, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger. It is unlawful to manufacture, possess, transport or sell a machine gun or a silencer, but it is an affirmative defense to possess such devices if they are legally registered and possessed in compliance with all federal laws. It is unlawful to possess any rifle with a barrel length of less than 16 inches, a shotgun with a barrel length of less than 18 inches, or any rifle or shotgun with an overall length of less than 26 inches. |
Miscellaneous
It is unlawful to remove, alter, cover, or destroy the manufacturer’s serial number on a firearm with the intent to render the firearm untraceable or to possess such a firearm. MORE |
Preemption
Complete authority to regulate firearms is reserved to the state legislature. MORE |
Possession
No state permit is required to possess a rifle, shotgun or handgun. MORE |
Purchase
No state permit is required to purchase a rifle, shotgun or handgun. MORE |
Range Protection
No person may bring a civil or criminal action alleging excessive noise resulting from the normal operation of a shooting range. MORE |
Transportation and Storage of Firearms in Privately Owned Motor Vehicles
The state, a municipality or a person may not adopt or enforce a law, ordinance, policy or rule that prohibits an individual from possessing a firearm while that individual is within a motor vehicle or prohibiting an individual from storing a firearm that is locked in the individual’s motor vehicle while the motor vehicle is otherwise legally parked in or on state or municipal property or another person’s property. This applies only to possession of a firearm by an individual who may legally possess a firearm under state and federal law. MORE |
SOURCES: A.S. §§ 9.65.155; 11.61.195; 11.61.200; 11.61.210; 11.61.220; 18.65.700; 18.65.705; 18.65.710; 18.65.715; 18.65.720; 18.65.725; 18.65.730; 18.65.740; 18.65.748; 18.65.755; 18.65.775; 18.65.778; 18.65.790 |
Monday, May 9, 2005
NRA supported House Bill 184 passed out of the Alaska Legislature on Saturday, May 7. HB 184 is ...
Wednesday, May 4, 2005
NRA supported House Bill 184 will soon be voted on in the Senate. If passed, HB 184 will ...
Wednesday, May 4, 2005
A Senate committee is thinking of adding one more provision to an anti-gun-control bill. The proposed amendment would ...
Thursday, April 14, 2005
The Alaska House overwhelmingly passed legislation that would bar cities and boroughs from going any further than the ...
Monday, April 11, 2005
If the fight over judicial confirmation process in the U.S. Senate goes "nuclear" sometime in the next few ...
Thursday, April 7, 2005
Grizzly bears wandering out of their winter dens in the eastern interior of Alaska this spring may be ...
Friday, February 4, 2005
An Anchorage judge on Wednesday upheld the state`s aerial wolf-control program. In her decision, Superior Court Judge Sharon ...
Monday, November 1, 2004
A Tee Harbor, Alaska, resident heard noises in the kitchen, retrieved a gun and went to investigate. He ...
Friday, September 24, 2004
Once again, out-of-state animal rights extremists are seeking to force their will on Alaskans by seeking to ban ...
Monday, August 23, 2004
Sen. Lisa Murkowski says she has not asked Alaskans to like the way she got her job — ...