Mississippi Concealed Carry Reciprocity Map & Gun Laws

Yes. There is no statute prohibiting the purchase or use of pepper spray in Mississippi.

No. There are no ammunition restrictions in Mississippi.

Mississippi is a shall issue state.

The minimum age for permitless concealed carry isn't addressed in Mississippi statutes. However, standard and enhanced firearms permits are issued to applicants that qualify and are a minimum of 21 years old or at least 18 and a member of the military or a military veteran. According to the Department of Public Safety, 21 is the age for concealed carry.

Yes. While no permit is required for purchase, a concealed carry permit is required to carry a stun gun or Taser. The same areas that are off-limits for concealed handguns apply to carrying stun guns.

[Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-101]

Yes, for anyone not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm and not engaged in criminal activity.

[MDWFP Title 40-6-1.2(T)(1)]

Private businesses may restrict or deny concealed carry on their premises. To ban firearms, a property owner must place written notice, clearly readable at a distance of not less than 10 feet, that says “carrying of a pistol or revolver is prohibited.” The individual hotel should be contacted to inquire about it's concealed carry policy. See the Handguns at Hotels page for additional information.

[Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-101(13)]

Yes, without a permit for anyone not otherwise prohibited from possessing a handgun. A handgun may be carried upon the person if it is in a sheath, belt holster or shoulder holster; in a purse, handbag, satchel, other similar bag; or in a briefcase or fully enclosed case.

[Miss. Code Ann. § 97-37-1(2)][Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-101(24)]

There is no duty to inform a law enforcement officer that you're carrying a concealed firearm in Mississippi.

[Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-101(1)(b)]

Not addressed in state statutes.

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 judgement, slow your reaction times or impact your decision-making abilities. Any decision you make while carrying a firearm could have life-altering consequences.

No. However, the information is available for law enforcement.

Yes. The carrying of a stun gun, concealed pistol or revolver may be disallowed in any place in the discretion of the person or entity exercising control over the location by posting a sign stating “carrying of a pistol or revolver is prohibited.”

[Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-101(13)]

Enhanced carry permit holders may carry a concealed handgun into any locations in which the carrying of concealed weapons is generally prohibited, except that he or she may not carry a concealed weapon into:

• Any courtroom during a judicial proceeding or when otherwise prohibited by a judge;
• Any place of nuisance (defined as any place where lewdness or prostitution is conducted or permitted or where controlled substances are unlawfully used, possessed, sold or delivered more than once);
• Any police, sheriff, or highway patrol station; or
• Any detention facility, prison, or jail.

[Miss. Code Ann. § 97-37-7(2)]

No definition of brandishing was found in Mississippi law. However, if any person, having or carrying any dirk, dirk-knife, sword, sword-cane, or any deadly weapon, shall, in the presence of another person, brandish or wield the same in a threatening manner, not in necessary self-defense, or shall in any manner unlawfully use the same in any fight or quarrel they shall be guilty of a deadly weapons offense. In prosecutions under this section it shall not be necessary that any gun, pistol, or other firearm be loaded, or in condition to be discharged.

[Miss. Code Ann. § 97-37-19]

18 years old. A person may possess and transport a handgun in Mississippi if he or she is at least 18 years of age.

[Miss. Code Ann. § 97-37-14]

No. Private firearms transfers are not subject to a background check requirement, although federal and state purchaser prohibitions, including age restrictions, still apply. It is recommended that you retain any sales receipts to prove ownership of the gun.

No. There is no waiting period after purchasing a handgun in Mississippi.

Yes. Any person over the age of 18 and legally entitled to carry a firearm within the confines of his or her own home, place of business, on real property associated with the home or business or within any motor vehicle.

[Miss. Code. Ann. § 97-37-1(2)]

An applicant must:

• Be at least 21 years of age or 18 if a member of the military;
• Have been a resident of the state for more than 12 months (although this may be waived if the applicant possesses a valid permit from another state, is on active military duty and stationed in the state, or is a retired law enforcement officer residing in the state);
• Not have been convicted of a felony without having been pardoned;
• Not be suffering from a physical infirmity which prevents the safe handling of a handgun;
• Have no violent misdemeanor convictions within the last 3 years;
• Not have been adjudicated mentally incompetent or must wait 5 years from the date of his or her restoration of mental capacity by court order;
• Not have been committed to a mental institution or mental health treatment facility, unless he or she possesses a certificate from a psychiatrist licensed in Mississippi stating that he or she has not suffered from disability for a period of 5 years;
• Not chronically and habitually use alcoholic beverages to the extent that his or her normal faculties are impaired;
• Not be a fugitive from justice;
• Not have had an adjudication of guilt withheld or imposition of sentence suspended on any felony unless 3 years have elapsed since probation or any other conditions set by the court have been fulfilled; and
• Meet federal law requirements.

*Consult with an attorney if you have any questions about your eligibility. If you don’t have an attorney, you can find one by contacting the State Bar of Mississippi.

5 years for initial permit

4 years for renewals

Link to application

For reciprocity reasons, two types of permits are available at the state level: the Standard Firearms Permit (SFP) and an enhanced version (E-SFP). The E-SFP allows carry in more locations and is only available to residents. It requires a training course offered by an instructor certified by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.

With proper documentation, any member or veteran of any active or reserve component branch of the U.S. armed forces, honorably retired law enforcement officer or honorably retired veteran having completed law enforcement or combat training with pistols or other handguns may obtain an enhanced permit.

Within 30 days after having a permit lost or destroyed, you must notify the Department of Public Safety (DPS) in writing. A notarized Lost or Destroyed Permit Affidavit or notarized statement to DPS that the permit has been lost or destroyed is required. If your permit is lost or destroyed, you may obtain a duplicate for $15. Duplicates are done at the Firearm Permit Unit at DPS headquarters and at the substations according to their published schedule.​​

With standard firearm permit:

• Any elementary or secondary school facility, junior college, community college, college or university facility;
• School, college or professional athletic event not related to firearms;
• Any courthouse;
• Police, sheriff or highway patrol station;
• Any detention facility, prison or jail;
• Polling place;
• Any place of nuisance (defined as any place where lewdness or prostitution is conducted or permitted or where controlled substances are unlawfully used, possessed, sold or delivered more than once) [Miss. Code Ann. § 95-3-1];
• Meeting of a government or legislative body;
• Church or place of worship, except for a church’s authorized armed security team;
• Premises posted “Carrying of a pistol or revolver is prohibited”;
• Day use areas, campgrounds and other developed recreational lands on Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA Property);
• Any portion of an establishment licensed to dispense alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises that is primarily devoted to dispensing alcoholic beverages;
• A parade or demonstration for which a permit is required to carry a stun gun, concealed pistol or revolver;
• The passenger terminal of any airport, except if the firearm is encased for shipment;
• In the following locations in municipalities posted as off-limits indicating that the  location is one where the prohibition does not apply to enhanced permit holders including:
  • • • Public parks, public meetings of a county, municipality or other governmental body;
      • Political rallies, parades or official political meetings; or
      • Non-firearm-related school, college or professional athletic events; and
• Any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law or state law or regulation.

With enhanced firearm permit:

• Educational property (one section of state law says an enhanced permit holder can carry on school, community college or university property, another says it’s illegal. An AG’s opinion from 2012 says campus carry is allowed for enhanced permit holders);
• Police, sheriff or highway patrol station;
• Any detention facility, prison or jail;
• Courtrooms during a judicial proceeding;
• Per a ruling by the 1st Circuit Court, as of March 14, 2019, guns will be prohibited in courthouses in the 1st circuit counties of Alcorn, Itawamba, Lee, Monroe, Pontotoc, Prentiss and Tishomingo;
• Any place of nuisance as defined above [Miss. Code Ann. § 95-3-1];
• Secured areas of airports;
• Any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law or state law or regulation; and
• Premises posted “Carrying of a pistol or revolver is prohibited” (although not a violation of the concealed weapon statute, this may constitute trespassing);
• In the following locations in municipalities posted as off-limits indicating that the  location is one (listed above) where all license holders are prohibited from carrying including:
  • • • Public parks, public meetings of a county, municipality or other governmental body;
      • Political rallies, parades or official political meetings; or
      • Non-firearm-related school, college or professional athletic events; and
• Any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law or state law or regulation.

[Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-101(13)]

There is no known statute in Mississippi making it illegal to wear a COVID mask while carrying concealed.

Yes. Anyone can open carry and concealed carry permit holders can conceal carry.

It is legal to own any knife in Mississippi, unless you are a minor or have been convicted of a felony. Minors and felons may not own Bowie, dirk, butcher or switchblade knives. You can open carry any knife in Mississippi. You may not concealed carry any Bowie, dirk, butcher or switchblade knife unless it is in your home or place of business, in your vehicle or you are fishing, hunting or participating in some sporting activity in which it is common to use that type of knife. In addition, weapons are not permitted on “educational property,” which includes school buses.

[Miss. Code Ann. §§ 97-37-1, 97-37-17]