Constitutional Carry in Alaska: What the Law Allows

Constitutional Carry in Alaska

Alaska has been a constitutional carry (permitless carry) state since September 9, 2003. Any eligible individual may carry a concealed or openly carried handgun without obtaining a permit, completing a background check, or meeting any training requirement.

Who May Carry Without a Permit

• Any person 21 years of age or older who is not prohibited under state or federal law from possessing a firearm may carry a concealed handgun in Alaska without a permit.
• Alaska law does not require a concealed handgun permit, background check, or training for lawful concealed carry by eligible individuals.

Age Restrictions

• Minimum age for permitless concealed carry: 21 years old.
• Persons under 21 are NOT permitted to carry a concealed handgun in Alaska, even if they hold a concealed carry permit from another state that issues permits to individuals aged 18–20.
• Out-of-state permits issued to 18–20-year-olds do not override Alaska's 21-year age requirement.

Eligibility: "Not Prohibited From Possessing a Firearm"

The key eligibility standard is that the individual must not be prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law. Persons generally prohibited include:

• Persons convicted of a felony (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1))
• Persons convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9))
• Persons subject to certain domestic violence restraining orders (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8))
• Persons adjudicated as mentally defective or committed to a mental institution (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(4))
• Unlawful users of or persons addicted to controlled substances (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3))
• Other categories under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) and Alaska Statutes Title 11 (Criminal Law)

Scope: Handguns, Not All Firearms

Alaska's permitless carry framework applies to handguns. Higher-degree misconduct-involving-weapons statutes (AS 11.61.190–11.61.210) criminalize possession of certain prohibited weapons — including machine guns, silencers, and certain short-barreled firearms — and can result in criminal liability regardless of permitless carry status. See AS 11.61.200 for the full list of prohibited weapons.

Restricted and Prohibited Locations

State-Law Prohibited Locations (AS 11.61.195–11.61.220)

Alaska statute specifically prohibits firearms in certain locations. A person can be criminally liable simply for possessing a firearm in these locations, whether or not the location is posted:

• Schools (K-12 school grounds)
• Child care centers
• Courthouses and courtrooms
• State-funded domestic violence shelters
• State-funded sexual assault shelters

Federal-Law Prohibited Locations

Federal restrictions apply in Alaska regardless of the state's permitless carry status. As noted by the Alaska Department of Public Safety, "Alaska's laws do not apply to federal property, offices, installations, or places under federal jurisdiction":

• Federal facilities — 18 U.S.C. § 930 prohibits firearms in federal buildings, including federal courthouses, federal office buildings, and certain areas of national parks
• Post offices — 39 C.F.R. § 232.1(l) bars firearms on U.S. Postal Service property, including parking lots
• School zones (federal overlay) — The Gun-Free School Zones Act (18 U.S.C. § 922(q)) restricts firearm possession within 1,000 feet of K-12 school grounds. Holders of Alaska's optional CHP qualify for the "licensed by the state" exception; permitless carry alone does not satisfy this federal requirement
• Military bases and installations
• National parks — Firearm possession in national parks follows state law, but remains subject to federal facility bans inside posted buildings and structures

Private Property

Alaska does not have a blanket "signs carry force of law" statute for private businesses. However, property owners may restrict firearms on their premises and enforce those restrictions through trespass law if a person refuses to leave or disarm after notice.

Why Get a Permit If Constitutional Carry Exists?

Alaska maintains an optional Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP) under AS 18.65.700–18.65.790, issued on a shall-issue basis by the Alaska Department of Public Safety. Reasons to obtain a CHP include:

• Interstate reciprocity — The CHP satisfies training and background-check standards recognized by many other states, allowing Alaska residents to carry concealed when traveling, subject to those states' laws
• Gun-Free School Zones Act compliance — The CHP qualifies holders as "licensed by the state" for purposes of the federal exception under 18 U.S.C. § 922(q); pure permitless carry does not satisfy this requirement
• NICS exemption — The CHP is approved by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) as an alternative to the point-of-sale NICS background check. CHP holders may request their permit be labeled "NICS Exempt" by completing a NICS supplement form
• Residency requirement — The CHP is available only to Alaska residents

Carrying Outside of Alaska

• When carrying in another state, that state's laws must be followed.
• The CHP provides reciprocity benefits in states that have agreements with Alaska. The Alaska Department of Public Safety maintains the current list of reciprocal states.
• Interstate travel via the Alaska Highway through Canada triggers foreign-law considerations that fall outside the scope of Alaska statutes — travelers must comply with Canadian firearms import and transport laws.
• Under the Firearms Owners' Protection Act (FOPA) (18 U.S.C. § 926A), persons may transport unloaded, secured firearms through states where they would otherwise be prohibited, provided travel is between two locations where possession is lawful. FOPA does not authorize concealed carry in transit states.

Non-Residents

• Alaska's constitutional carry provision applies to any person 21 or older who is not prohibited from possessing a firearm — the law does not distinguish between residents and non-residents for permitless carry purposes.
• The CHP permit, however, is available only to Alaska residents.

Recent Legal Developments and Stability

• Permitless carry has been continuously in effect since September 9, 2003 — there has been no fundamental change to Alaska's constitutional carry framework.
• Post-Bruen stability: Following New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022), Alaska's already-permissive carry laws required no statutory overhaul. The state's 21+ permitless carry rule and CHP framework remain unchanged.
• No major judicial changes: No Alaska Supreme Court or Ninth Circuit decisions in recent years have invalidated core Alaska concealed carry statutes.
• Statutory updates: Recent statewide criminal-law updates have focused on specific weapon categories under AS 11.61.200 (prohibited weapons) and violent-crime enforcement rather than concealed carry eligibility.
• Current status (early 2026): Alaska remains a permitless carry state with the 21+ age requirement. The statutory list of prohibited locations under AS 11.61.195–.220 remains in force and unchanged.

Key Statutes

Note: Alaska's concealed carry framework was established in 2003. The Alaska DPS maintains a PDF of applicable statutes and regulations (last referenced update: 03/18/2014). Verify current statute text via the Alaska Legislature website for the most recent amendments.