Carrying a firearm for self-defense comes with a lot of responsibility. Knowing the laws where you carry is just one important task you must undertake as an armed American. To help with that, we’ve provided a comprehensive overview of Missouri gun laws. Learn about the most important things to know when carrying in the Show-Me State below.

Can You Carry a Gun in Missouri?

Missouri is a permitless carry state. Open carry and concealed carry are legal in Missouri for anyone 19 years or older who can legally possess a firearm — with or without a Concealed Carry Permit (CCP). However, local authorities can restrict concealed carry in any building owned, leased or controlled by the county or municipality (and may require a CCP for open carry).

Missouri Concealed Carry Permit

The minimum age to obtain a Missouri CCP is 19 years old (18 for members of the military or those honorably discharged). Applicants must also pass a firearms training course. Non-resident permits are only available to persons who are on active military duty or veterans who are at least 18 years old and stationed in Missouri. 

Stand Your Ground

Missouri has Castle Doctrine laws and became the 25th state to adopt the “stand your ground” canon. It empowers gun owners to defend themselves outside of their homes or properties. They are not required to retreat, wherever they may lawfully be, prior to using deadly force. The law also prohibits political subdivisions to preclude the use of firearms to defend people or property.

Gun Purchase and Handgun Registration Requirements

There is no permit required to purchase a handgun in Missouri. Private firearms transfers are not subject to a background check requirement, although federal and state purchaser prohibitions, including age restrictions, still apply. There is no registering firearms or waiting period when buying a handgun. However, when purchasing a firearm from a Federal Firearms License (FFL) dealer, a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check must be performed. NICS checks can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few days. If a determination is not obtained within three business days, then the transfer may legally be completed. The minimum age to purchase or possess handgun ammunition is 18 years old.

Less-Lethal Legal Self-Defense Weapons

Stun guns and Tasers are legal to purchase and possess without a permit. There is no statute prohibiting the purchase or use of pepper spray in Missouri. There are no magazine-capacity restrictions. The possession and sale of “exploding bullets” (bullets or projectiles that explode or detonate on impact due to an independent explosive charge after being shot from a firearm) is prohibited.

Where Can One Carry Concealed in Missouri?

Understanding where you can and cannot carry a firearm is crucial for staying compliant with Missouri’s gun laws. The state has specific locations where carrying a concealed handgun is allowed and places where it is strictly prohibited, even for permit holders. Familiarize yourself with these regulations to ensure you are always carrying legally and responsibly.

Some areas where concealed carry is allowed include:

  • A restaurant or bar (This applies to the restaurant area if it’s not posted and you are not intoxicated. The manager’s consent is required for carry in the bar area.)
  • State/national parks
  • State/national forests
  • Wildlife management areas
  • Roadside rest areas

 Locations where concealed carry is prohibited, even for permit holders, include:

  • Higher-education institutions or elementary- or secondary-school facilities (without the consent of the governing body of the school)
  • Any portion of a building used as a child-care facility
  • Law enforcement agency facilities
  • Within 25 feet of any polling place on any election day
  • Adult or juvenile detention or correctional institutions, prisons or jails
  • Any courthouse solely occupied by the circuit, appellate or supreme court, or any courtrooms, administrative offices, libraries or other rooms of any such court
  • Any meeting of the governing body of a unit of local government or any meeting of the General Assembly or a committee of the General Assembly
  • Areas of an airport to which access is controlled by the inspection of persons and property
  • Buildings or portions of a building owned, leased or controlled by some counties or municipalities
  • Riverboat gambling operations accessible by the public
  • Gated areas of an amusement park
  • Churches or other places of religious worship without the consent of the minister or person or persons representing the religious organization that exercises control over the place of religious worship (except in a vehicle in the parking lot)
  • Any private property whose owner has posted the premises as being off-limits to concealed firearms
  • Sports arenas or stadiums with a seating capacity of 5,000 or more
  • Hospitals accessible by the public
  • Public passenger buses
  • Metro trains
  • Any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law

Can You Carry a Gun in Your Car in Missouri?

Concealed carry is allowed in a vehicle, without a permit and on restricted premises, so long as the firearm is not removed from the vehicle or brandished while the vehicle is on restricted premises. (Restricted premises are locations where concealed carry is not allowed in the state of Missouri.) There is no duty to inform a law enforcement officer that you’re carrying a concealed firearm unless the officer asks.

Can You Conceal Carry in a Bar in Missouri?

You cannot carry in bars (except the businesses’ owners) without the consent of the owner or manager. However, you can carry in a bar with a restaurant in the restaurant area only — but not if posted, and provided you are not intoxicated.

As a responsibly armed American, regardless of the laws in your state, it is unwise to carry while under the influence of any substance that could impair your judgment, slow your reaction times or impact your decision-making abilities. Any decision you make while carrying a firearm could have life-altering consequences.

 

Ready to Learn More About Missouri Gun Laws?

It is your responsibility as a gun owner to know and understand the laws regarding your concealed carry rights. The USCCA’s Concealed Carry Reciprocity & Gun Laws Map has been designed to help inform and educate armed citizens like you. To learn more about Missouri’s concealed carry permit application process, concealed carry restrictions and training requirements, visit the Missouri gun laws page now…

 

The information contained on this website is provided as a service to USCCA, Inc. members and the concealed carry community, and does not constitute legal advice. Although we attempt to address all areas of concealed carry laws in all states, we make no claims, representations, warranties, promises or guarantees as to the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information disclosed. Legal advice must always be tailored to the individual facts and circumstances of each individual case, and laws are constantly changing, and as such, nothing contained on this website should be used as a substitute for the advice of a lawyer.