Alaska is a constitutional (permitless) carry state — no permit is required to carry a concealed handgun. However, the state continues to issue...
Reviewed by Will Luker, Founder of CCW Hub. USCCA Training Counselor, USCCA Certified Instructor, NRA Certified Instructor, Law Enforcement.
Alaska is a constitutional (permitless) carry state — no permit is required to carry a concealed handgun. However, the state continues to issue Concealed Handgun Permits (CHPs) for reciprocity with other states. Regardless of permitless carry status, numerous restrictions apply to who may carry, what weapons are restricted, and how felons' rights are affected under both state and federal law.
The following persons are prohibited from possessing or carrying concealed firearms under Alaska and federal law. These disqualifiers appear on the Alaska CHP application (Alaska DPS) and mirror federal prohibitions under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g):
Sources: Alaska DPS Concealed Handgun Permit Application (Section II); 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)
Under AS 11.61.200(a)(3), it is a crime (Misconduct Involving Weapons in the Third Degree) to possess certain prohibited weapons, including:
Note: Alaska courts have ruled that butterfly (balisong) knives are NOT switchblades or gravity knives and therefore are not prohibited weapons. (Jacobson v. State, 786 P.2d 388 (Alaska App. 1990); State v. Strange, 785 P.2d 563 (Alaska App. 1990))
Additionally, under AS 11.61.200(a)(6), it is illegal to possess a firearm with an altered, removed, or obliterated serial number with intent to render the firearm untraceable.
Alaska's primary weapons restriction statute is AS 11.61.200 — Misconduct Involving Weapons in the Third Degree.
A convicted felon may carry a concealed weapon only if one of the following applies:
Even with these defenses, the Alaska Department of Public Safety takes the position — upheld in Gabrielle v. State of Alaska, 158 P.3d 813 (Alaska 2007) — that anyone with a felony record is ineligible for an Alaska Concealed Handgun Permit, regardless of pardons, set-asides, or time elapsed.
Note on long guns: Under state law, convicted felons whose rights have been restored (through pardon, set-aside, or passage of 10 years) may possess rifles and shotguns. The concealed carry restriction applies specifically to concealable firearms (handguns).
A critical issue exists at the intersection of Alaska state law and federal law:
Under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), convicted felons are prohibited from possessing any firearm. An exception exists under 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(20) for felons whose civil rights have been restored — unless state law imposes any restriction on their firearm possession.
The U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Caron v. United States, 524 U.S. 308 (1998) established an "all-or-nothing" standard: if state law restricts a felon's firearm rights in any way, the federal prohibition applies to all firearms.
The FBI's interpretation: Because AS 11.61.200(a)(12) restricts felons from carrying concealed weapons (even with the limited exceptions in subsection (g)), the FBI considers Alaska law to trigger the federal prohibition. This means:
Even felons who have been pardoned, had convictions set aside, or served 10+ years since unconditional discharge are flagged by NICS (National Instant Criminal Background Check System) and barred from purchasing or possessing ANY firearm under federal law.
This creates a significant hardship, particularly for rural Alaskans who depend on firearms for subsistence hunting and personal protection from wildlife.
Multiple bills have been introduced in the Alaska Legislature to address this conflict, including HB 408 (26th Legislature), which proposed amending AS 11.61.200 to bring state law into alignment with federal requirements and allow felons who have served their debt to society to have their full federal firearms rights restored. As of the source material, this legislation had not been enacted.
The sponsor statement for HB 408 noted: "The Alaska State Legislature has made its own policy decision about how to handle the gun rights of ex-felons; however the Federal Government has stripped Alaska of the right to make its own judgments, excepting an all-or-nothing decision on gun rights for ex-felons."
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has a process for reinstatement of firearms rights, but Congress has prohibited ATF from spending money on processing such applications since 1992. Presidential pardons remain theoretically available — the ATF directs applicants to the Pardon Attorney's Office at the U.S. Department of Justice.
Under the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA), signed into federal law in July 2004:
A qualified law enforcement officer is defined as a current employee of a governmental agency who is authorized by law to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of, or the incarceration of any person for, any violation of law, and who has the statutory powers of arrest. Such an officer may carry a concealed weapon anywhere in the United States if they:
May carry concealed if they:
Under federal regulations governing Alaska's national preserves (36 CFR 13.40(d)(4)):
It is unlawful for a person having been airborne to use a firearm or any other weapon to take or assist in taking certain wildlife species — including bear, caribou, moose, Dall sheep, wolf, wolverine, and others — until after 3:00 AM on the day following the day in which the flying occurred.
This prohibition does not apply to flights on regularly scheduled commercial airlines between regularly maintained public airports.
When transferring firearms (e.g., through an estate):
Source: Alaska Court System — Transferring Ownership of Assets
| Statute | Description |
|---|---|
| AS 11.61.190 | Misconduct Involving Weapons — First Degree (title per jury instruction index; substantive provisions not detailed in available sources) |
| AS 11.61.195 | Misconduct Involving Weapons — Second Degree (title per jury instruction index; substantive provisions not detailed in available sources) |
| AS 11.61.200 | Misconduct Involving Weapons — Third Degree (primary restriction statute) |
| AS 11.61.200(a)(1) | Felon possession of concealable firearm |
| AS 11.61.200(a)(3) | Possession of prohibited weapons (switchblade, gravity knife) |
| AS 11.61.200(a)(6) | Possession of firearm with altered serial number |
| AS 11.61.200(a)(10) | Felon residing in dwelling with concealable firearm |
| AS 11.61.200(a)(12) | Convicted felon carrying concealed weapon |
| AS 11.61.200(b) | Affirmative defenses (pardon, set-aside) |
| AS 11.61.200(g) | Exceptions to felon concealed carry ban |
| AS 12.55.085 | Suspended imposition of sentence / set-aside |
| AS 18.65.700–790 | Concealed Handgun Permit program |
| 13 AAC 30.010–900 | CHP regulations |
| 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) | Federal firearms prohibitions |
| 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(20) | Federal exception for restored civil rights |
| Case | Significance |
|---|---|
| Gabrielle v. State of Alaska, 158 P.3d 813 (2007) | Upheld DPS position that felons are ineligible for Alaska CHP regardless of pardons or set-asides |
| Caron v. United States, 524 U.S. 308 (1998) | "All-or-nothing" standard — any state restriction on felon firearm rights triggers full federal prohibition |
| Jacobson v. State, 786 P.2d 388 (1990) | Butterfly knife is NOT a prohibited switchblade or gravity knife |
| State v. Strange, 785 P.2d 563 (1990) | Confirmed butterfly/balisong knives are not prohibited |
| State v. Weaver, 736 P.2d 781 (1987) | Gravity knife possession in the home does not violate right to privacy |
| Morgan v. State, 943 P.2d 1208 (1997) | Felon-in-dwelling-with-firearm statute does not violate right of association or right to bear arms |
This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Concealed carry laws are subject to change. Always consult current Alaska statutes and a qualified attorney for legal guidance.
This page covers one part of our Alaska concealed carry guide.
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