
Mississippi's gun laws are among the most permissive in the country. The state has constitutional carry laws, meaning no state permit is required to carry a handgun. Mississippi is a shall issue state, and concealed weapons permits are issued at the state level by the Department of Public Safety. While a license is not required for constitutional carry, Mississippi does issue concealed carry permits for reciprocity purposes. The state also allows permitless concealed carry in certain circumstances, such as carrying a loaded handgun inside a purse or bag without a permit.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Constitutional carry laws | Yes, Mississippi is a "shall-issue" state, meaning it allows constitutional carry. It does not require a permit, background check, or firearms registration when buying a handgun from a private individual. |
| Concealed carry laws | Yes, Mississippi allows "permitless" concealed carry. A license is not required for a loaded or unloaded pistol or revolver to be carried in a sheath, belt holster, or shoulder holster, or in a purse, handbag, satchel, or briefcase. |
| Open carry laws | Yes, Mississippi allows open carry of a firearm, at least partially visible outside of clothing, for anyone over the age of 18 who can legally possess a firearm. |
| Purchase and possession laws | No license or background check is required to purchase or possess a firearm in Mississippi, except when buying from a Federal Firearms Dealer. |
| Castle Doctrine | Yes, Mississippi has a "stand your ground" law, meaning a person who is not the initial aggressor and is not engaged in unlawful activity has no duty to retreat before using deadly force if they are in a place where they have a right to be. |
| Reciprocity | Mississippi recognizes out-of-state carry permits, and its permits are also recognized in other states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Georgia, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Dakota, and Vermont. |
| Training requirements | There is no requirement for standard firearms permit applicants to complete a handgun training course. However, applicants for enhanced firearms permits must complete an 8-hour course on firearms safety taught by a certified instructor. |
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Mississippi is a constitutional carry state
Mississippi is a "shall-issue" state, meaning that the relevant authority is compelled to issue a permit if the applicant passes the basic requirements set out by state law. Mississippi is also a constitutional carry state, meaning that no state permit is required to carry a handgun. A license is not required for a loaded or unloaded pistol or revolver to be carried upon the person in a sheath, belt holster, or shoulder holster or in a purse, handbag, satchel, or briefcase. However, the person must not be engaged in criminal activity other than a misdemeanor traffic offense, must not be otherwise prohibited from possessing a pistol or revolver under state or federal law, and must not be in a prohibited location.
Mississippi's gun laws are among the most permissive in the country, with no license or background check required to openly carry handguns in most areas of the state. Anyone over the age of 18 who can legally possess a firearm can open carry in Mississippi, provided the firearm is carried in a holster, sheath, or scabbard that is at least partially visible above their clothing. Some areas are off-limits, including schools, bars, and government buildings.
Mississippi also allows permitless concealed carry, meaning that any person who can legally possess a firearm may carry a concealed firearm on their person without a license or permit. However, the state still issues concealed carry permits, and if a permit holder voluntarily completes an approved safety training course, they are exempt from the prohibition on carrying concealed firearms in many locations, including schools, polling places, government meetings, bars, and churches.
Mississippi's gun laws have changed significantly in recent years, moving from fairly restrictive to among the most permissive in the country. In 2013, a law clarified that "open carry" of a firearm was allowed in public by the Mississippi Constitution. In 2015, the governor signed what has been called the "purse carry" law, which allows Mississippians to carry guns concealed in a purse, briefcase, satchel, or bag without a permit, subject to restrictions on location. In 2016, Mississippi became one of 11 states that allow "constitutional carry" of a firearm concealed without a state permit.
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No permit, background check, or registration required
Mississippi is a "shall-issue" state, meaning that the Mississippi Department of Public Safety is required to issue a concealed carry permit to any applicant who meets the basic requirements set out by state law. However, Mississippi also has "permitless carry" or "constitutional carry" laws, meaning that no permit, background check, or registration is required to carry a firearm.
The state's "constitutional carry" law, enacted in 2016, allows individuals to carry a firearm concealed without a state permit, as long as it is in a holster or sheath. This law changed Mississippi's gun laws from fairly restrictive to among the most permissive in the country. It is important to note that open carry of a firearm in Mississippi must be in a holster, sheath, or scabbard that is at least partially visible above clothing, and only in places where guns are not otherwise prohibited, such as schools and bars.
Mississippi also allows "purse carry," which means that individuals can carry guns concealed in a purse, briefcase, satchel, or bag without a permit, subject to the same restrictions as open carry. Additionally, Mississippi has a "stand your ground" law, which means that an individual who is not the initial aggressor and is not engaged in unlawful activity has no duty to retreat before using deadly force if they are in a place where they have a right to be.
While Mississippi does not require a permit, background check, or registration for individuals who can legally possess firearms to carry them concealed, the state still issues concealed carry permits for reciprocity purposes. These permits are recognized in several other states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Georgia, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Dakota, and Vermont.
It is important to note that Mississippi's gun laws can change, and individuals are advised to check the Mississippi attorney general's website for the latest information.
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Concealed carry is legal with a CCW permit
Mississippi is a "shall issue" state, meaning that the Mississippi Department of Public Safety is required to issue a concealed carry permit to an applicant if they meet certain qualifications. Mississippi offers resident and non-resident permits, with non-residents defined as military personnel stationed in Mississippi or retired law enforcement officers establishing residency in the state. Applicants must be 21 years old, or at least 18 if they are a member of the military or a veteran.
Mississippi also allows permitless concealed carry, meaning that any person who can legally possess a firearm may carry a concealed firearm on their person without a license or permit. However, there are restrictions on where this permitless carry is allowed. For example, Mississippi law prohibits carrying a concealed weapon in a school, courthouse, police station, detention facility, government meeting place, polling place, bar, or church. Additionally, the firearm must be carried in a holster, sheath, or scabbard that is at least partially visible above clothing.
Mississippi also recognizes all out-of-state carry permits, provided the issuing state authorizes Mississippi license holders to carry concealed handguns in that state. This means that a person with a valid license to carry a concealed handgun in another state can carry a concealed handgun in Mississippi as well, as long as the issuing state has communicated this reciprocity to the Department of Public Safety.
While Mississippi does not require a permit for concealed carry in certain circumstances, it is important to note that there are still legal restrictions on where and how firearms can be carried. Mississippi law prohibits carrying a firearm on school property, and local governments may also restrict the carrying of firearms in public parks, public meetings, and other sensitive areas. Additionally, Mississippi law penalizes the concealed carrying of certain types of weapons, such as short-barrelled rifles or shotguns, machine guns, or any fully automatic firearm.
Overall, while Mississippi does allow concealed carry without a permit in some cases, there are still important legal considerations and restrictions that individuals must follow to remain in compliance with the law.
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Open carry is legal for anyone over 18
Mississippi is a "shall-issue" state, which means that the issuing authority, county sheriff, or police department is required to issue a permit if the applicant meets the basic requirements set out by state law. Mississippi is also a constitutional carry state, which means that no state permit is required to carry a handgun. In other words, permitless carry is allowed.
Mississippi's gun laws are among the most permissive in the country. The state has no license or background check requirement for openly carrying handguns almost anywhere within the state. Open carry is legal for anyone over 18 who can legally possess a firearm. The firearm must be carried in a holster, sheath, or scabbard that is at least partially visible above clothing anywhere where guns are not otherwise prohibited. Some areas are off-limits, including schools, polling places, government meetings, bars, churches, and athletic events.
Mississippi also allows "purse carry," which means that Mississippians can carry guns concealed in a purse, briefcase, satchel, or bag without a permit, subject to the same restrictions as open carry. Additionally, Mississippi is a Castle Doctrine state with a "stand your ground" law. This means that a person who is not the initial aggressor and is not engaged in unlawful activity has no duty to retreat before using deadly force if they are in a place where they have a right to be.
It is important to note that firearms laws can change, and licensees should regularly check the Mississippi attorney general's website for the latest information.
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Mississippi is a shall issue state
Mississippi is a "shall-issue" state, meaning that it will grant a concealed carry permit to any individual who applies and meets the requirements. In "shall-issue" states, the granting authority has no discretion in the awarding of the licenses, and there is no requirement for the applicant to demonstrate "good cause". In other words, Mississippi will issue a permit as long as the applicant meets the specified criteria.
In Mississippi, a permit applicant must be 21 years old (or at least 18 and a member of the military or a veteran) and either be a resident of Mississippi, a non-resident with a valid permit from another state, an active-duty member of the military stationed in Mississippi, or a retired law enforcement officer establishing residency in the state. Mississippi also requires a firearms training course offered by an instructor certified by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.
Mississippi is also a "permitless carry" state, meaning that any person who can legally possess a firearm may carry a concealed firearm on their person without a license or permit. However, there are some restrictions on where concealed firearms can be carried, including schools, polling places, government meetings, bars, and churches.
Mississippi is also a "Castle Doctrine" state with a "stand your ground" law. This means that a person who is not the initial aggressor and is not engaged in unlawful activity has no duty to retreat before using deadly force if they are in a place where they have a right to be.
It's important to note that gun laws can change over time, and individuals are responsible for staying up to date with the latest regulations. This information is not legal advice, and individuals should refer to official sources for the most current and accurate information.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Mississippi is a constitutional carry state.
A constitutional carry state allows any person who can legally possess a firearm to carry a concealed firearm on their person without a license or permit.
A permit applicant must be 21 years old (or at least 18 and a member of the military or a veteran) and either be a resident of Mississippi, a non-resident with a valid permit from another state, an active-duty member of the military stationed in Mississippi, or a retired law enforcement officer establishing residency in the state.
Some areas are off-limits, including schools, bars, government buildings, and demonstrations for which a permit is required.





















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