Mississippi Gun Laws

Mississippi requires no license to carry a loaded or unloaded pistol or revolver on the person in a sheath, belt holster, or shoulder holster, or in a purse, handbag, satchel, similar bag, briefcase, or fully enclosed case. The fully-enclosed-case exemption traces to 2015's SB 2394, and the sheath/holster language was added by 2016's HB 786 (Church Protection Act), effective July 1, 2016.

"No license shall be required under this section for a loaded or unloaded pistol or revolver carried upon the person in a sheath, belt holster or shoulder holster or carried in a purse, handbag, satchel, other similar bag or briefcase or fully enclosed case."

Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-101(24) statute

The statutory definition of 'concealed' for purposes of the concealed-carry prohibition excludes a loaded or unloaded pistol carried in a sheath, belt holster, or shoulder holster — or in a scabbard or carrying case — that is wholly or partially visible. Added by 2013's HB 2 and upheld by the Mississippi Supreme Court in 2013, this clarified that holstered open carry is not 'carrying concealed' and therefore is not subject to § 97-37-1.

"'Concealed' means hidden or obscured from common observation and shall not include any weapon listed in subsection (1) of this section, including, but not limited to, a loaded or unloaded pistol carried upon the person in a sheath, belt holster or shoulder holster that is wholly or partially visible, or carried upon the person in a scabbard or case for carrying the weapon that is wholly or partially visible."

Miss. Code Ann. § 97-37-1 (definition of 'concealed') statute

The Mississippi Firearms Permit is issued by the Department of Public Safety and is valid statewide for five years. Applicants must be Mississippi residents (residency waivable for out-of-state permit holders, active-duty military, military spouses, and retired LEOs) and at least 21 years of age, or 18-20 if a member or veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces (including National Guard or Reserves) with a Mississippi driver's license. Applicants must meet criteria on physical capability, criminal history, drug/alcohol use, and mental-health adjudications. First-time fee is $80; renewal is $40 (or $20 for residents 65+). Honorably retired law-enforcement officers, disabled veterans, and active-duty servicemembers are fee-exempt.

"the Department of Public Safety is authorized to issue licenses to carry stun guns, concealed pistols or revolvers to persons qualified as provided in this section. Such licenses shall be valid throughout the state for a period of five (5) years from the date of issuance."

Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-101 (Firearms Permit) statute

A Firearms Permit holder may obtain an Enhanced Carry endorsement by voluntarily completing an instructor-certified firearms-safety course (also satisfied by qualifying military or honorably retired LEO/military service plus an affidavit). The endorsement authorizes carry in courthouses (except courtrooms during proceedings) and most of the § 45-9-101(13) prohibited-place list except places of nuisance, police/sheriff/highway-patrol stations, and detention/prison/jail facilities. The Department's regulation (31 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 1, R. 15.1) requires at least 8 hours of training to qualify for the endorsement.

"A person licensed under Section 45-9-101 to carry a concealed pistol, who (a) has voluntarily completed an instructional course in the safe handling and use of firearms ... shall also be authorized to carry weapons in courthouses except in courtrooms during a judicial proceeding, and any location listed in subsection (13) of Section 45-9-101, except any place of nuisance ..."

Miss. Code Ann. § 97-37-7(2) (Enhanced Carry endorsement) statute

The Mississippi Department of Public Safety Driver Service Bureau administers both the standard Firearms Permit and the Enhanced Carry endorsement and publishes application forms, fee schedules, and certified instructor directories.

"Firearm Permit Division"

MS Department of Public Safety — Firearm Permit Division ag

Section 97-37-9 enumerates affirmative defenses to a § 97-37-1 concealed-carry charge — including that the defendant was a licensed Firearms Permit holder, was threatened or had good and substantial reason to fear an attack, or was traveling and not a tramp. HB 786 (2016) amended this section to add a corresponding church-security-team defense alongside the Church Protection Act amendments to § 45-9-101 and § 97-3-15.

Miss. Code Ann. § 97-37-9 (defenses to weapon-carrying charges) statute

The Department of Public Safety's Firearm Permit Division regulation at 31 Miss. Admin. Code Part 1, Rule 15.1 sets the minimum 8-hour instructor-certified firearms-safety course required for the Enhanced Carry endorsement under § 97-37-7(2). The course must be administered by a DPS-certified instructor and cover handling, marksmanship, and Mississippi-specific use-of-force law.

31 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 1, R. 15.1 (DPS Enhanced Carry training regulation) ag

Open carry of a holstered or scabbard-borne pistol is lawful without a permit. By statutory definition, a partially or wholly visible holstered handgun is not 'concealed,' so § 97-37-1's concealed-carry prohibition does not apply. The Mississippi Supreme Court upheld the 2013 open-carry clarification in August 2013, allowing the law to take effect.

"'Concealed' ... shall not include ... a loaded or unloaded pistol carried upon the person in a sheath, belt holster or shoulder holster that is wholly or partially visible."

Miss. Code Ann. § 97-37-1 (as amended 2013 HB 2) statute

It is not a violation of the concealed-carry prohibition for any person 18 years of age or older to carry a firearm or deadly weapon concealed within any motor vehicle, in addition to the home, place of business, and associated real property. This applies without regard to permit status. Combined with § 45-9-101(24), a loaded handgun may be carried in the glove box, center console, or any compartment of a vehicle without a permit.

"It shall not be a violation of this section for any person over the age of eighteen (18) years to carry a firearm or deadly weapon concealed within the confines of his own home or his place of business, or any real property associated with his home or business or within any motor vehicle."

Miss. Code Ann. § 97-37-1 (motor vehicle exception) statute

Mississippi prohibits any public or private employer from establishing, maintaining, or enforcing a policy that has the effect of preventing a person from transporting or storing a firearm in a locked vehicle in any employer parking lot, parking garage, or designated parking area. Protection applies to all persons (not just permit holders). Exceptions: employer-owned/leased vehicles used in business, locations where firearms are prohibited by state or federal law, and parking areas with restricted public access (controlled by gate, security station, or similar means). Employers receive civil immunity for incidents involving firearms covered by the statute.

"A public or private employer may not establish, maintain, or enforce any policy or rule that has the effect of prohibiting a person from transporting or storing a firearm in a locked vehicle in any parking lot, parking garage, or other designated parking area."

Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-55 statute

Mississippi recognizes any facially valid, unrevoked, and unexpired license to carry stun guns, concealed pistols, or revolvers issued by another state. This is universal statutory recognition — no written reciprocity agreement is required for Mississippi to honor an out-of-state permit. The Mississippi Department of Public Safety may enter written reciprocity agreements where another state requires one to recognize the Mississippi permit.

"Any person holding a valid unrevoked and unexpired license to carry stun guns, concealed pistols or revolvers issued in another state shall have such license recognized by this state to carry stun guns, concealed pistols or revolvers."

Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-101(19) statute

The MS DPS Driver Service Bureau publishes the state's reciprocity statement, confirming Mississippi recognizes valid licenses from every U.S. state under § 45-9-101(19) and noting that written agreements exist with states that require one (Alabama is the only state named on the page). Confirmation of which states recognize Mississippi's Firearms Permit or Enhanced Carry endorsement should be verified against the issuing state's most current reciprocity matrix before travel.

"Mississippi recognizes valid, unrevoked and unexpired license to carry stun guns, concealed pistols, or revolvers issued in other states."

MS DPS — Reciprocity ag

Mississippi codifies a castle doctrine that presumes a person using defensive force reasonably feared imminent death, great bodily harm, or commission of a felony if the person against whom the force was used was unlawfully and forcibly entering or had entered a dwelling, occupied vehicle, business, place of employment, or the immediate premises thereof, or was attempting to remove someone against their will. The presumption is rebutted if the entrant had a right to be there, or if the defender was engaged in unlawful activity.

"A person who uses defensive force shall be presumed to have reasonably feared imminent death or great bodily harm, or the commission of a felony upon him or another or upon his dwelling, or against a vehicle which he was occupying, or against his business or place of employment or the immediate premises of such business or place of employment, if the person against whom the defensive force was used, was in the process of unlawfully and forcibly entering, or had unlawfully and forcibly entered, a dwelling, occupied vehicle, business, place of employment or the immediate premises thereof."

Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-15(3) statute

Mississippi is a stand-your-ground state. 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 the person is in a place where the person has a right to be, and a failure to retreat may not be considered as evidence that the use of force was unnecessary, excessive, or unreasonable.

"A person who is not the initial aggressor and is not engaged in unlawful activity shall have no duty to retreat before using deadly force under subsection (1)(e) or (f) of this section if the person is in a place where the person has a right to be, and no finder of fact shall be permitted to consider the person's failure to retreat as evidence that the person's use of force was unnecessary, excessive or unreasonable."

Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-15(4) statute

Mississippi imposes no general duty for an armed person to proactively inform a law-enforcement officer that he or she is carrying. Firearms Permit holders must carry the permit and valid identification while carrying and must display both upon a law-enforcement officer's demand, but this is a display-on-demand obligation, not a duty to volunteer the information.

"The licensee must carry the license, together with valid identification, at all times in which the licensee is carrying a stun gun, concealed pistol or revolver and must display both the license and proper identification upon demand by a law enforcement officer."

Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-101(1)(b) (license display on demand) statute

A Mississippi Firearms Permit does NOT authorize carry in: places of nuisance; police/sheriff/highway-patrol stations; detention facilities, prisons, or jails; courthouses or courtrooms (except a judge in his/her own courtroom); polling places; meeting places of any governmental body or the Legislature; schools, colleges, or professional athletic events not related to firearms; portions of premises licensed to serve alcohol on-site that are primarily devoted to dispensing alcohol; elementary or secondary school facilities; college/university facilities; airport passenger terminals (except cased baggage); churches (except church security teams under HB 786); or any place prohibited by federal law. A property owner may also post a 'carrying of a pistol or revolver is prohibited' sign readable at 10 feet. Enhanced Carry endorsement holders may carry in most of these places except places of nuisance, police/sheriff/highway-patrol stations, detention/prison/jail facilities, and courtrooms during proceedings.

"No license issued pursuant to this section shall authorize any person to carry a stun gun, concealed pistol or revolver into any place of nuisance as defined in Section 95-3-1, Mississippi Code of 1972; any police, sheriff or highway patrol station; any detention facility, prison or jail; any courthouse; any courtroom ...; any polling place; any meeting place of the governing body of any governmental entity; any meeting of the Legislature ...; any school, college or professional athletic event not related to firearms; any portion of an establishment, licensed to dispense alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises, that is primarily devoted to dispensing alcoholic beverages."

Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-101(13) statute

Carrying any gun, rifle, pistol, or other firearm on educational property — defined to include any public or private school building, bus, campus, grounds, recreational area, or athletic field of any K-12 school, college, or university — is a felony. Exceptions exist for non-students who do not brandish or display the firearm in a careless, angry, or threatening manner, and for authorized personnel.

"It shall be a felony for any person to possess or carry, whether openly or concealed, any gun, rifle, pistol or other firearm of any kind on educational property."

Miss. Code Ann. § 97-37-17 (Educational property) statute

Section 95-3-1 supplies the definition of 'place of nuisance' that is incorporated by reference into § 45-9-101(13)'s list of places where a Firearms Permit does not authorize carry. The chapter defines places used for the unlawful sale of controlled substances, gambling, lewdness, prostitution, and similar conduct as nuisances subject to abatement. The Enhanced Carry endorsement also does NOT lift the place-of-nuisance restriction.

Miss. Code Ann. § 95-3-1 (definition of 'place of nuisance') statute

Mississippi follows the federal NICS scheme: federally licensed firearm dealers must run a background check through NICS at the time of every transfer. Mississippi does not impose a state-level universal background check and does not require background checks for private, in-state transfers between non-licensed individuals.

"The NICS is used by Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) to instantly determine whether a prospective buyer is eligible to buy firearms or explosives."

18 U.S.C. § 922(t) (federal NICS) / MS does not impose universal background check atf

Federal law requires that handguns be purchased from a federally licensed dealer only by buyers 21 or older, while long guns may be purchased from an FFL at 18. Mississippi imposes no additional state minimum purchase age beyond federal law. Private in-state transfers between unlicensed adults are not bound by these FFL minimums.

"A licensee may not sell a handgun to anyone under the age of 21. A licensee may not sell a long gun to anyone under the age of 18."

18 U.S.C. § 922(b)(1) (federal) atf

Mississippi does not require firearm registration. Miss. Code § 45-9-101(18) expressly forbids the registration, documentation, or providing of serial numbers in connection with the licensing scheme. 2023's HB 1110 (Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act, effective January 1, 2024) additionally prohibits state and local government entities, as well as private actors, from keeping a registry of privately owned firearms or their owners, and prohibits financial institutions from using firearm-specific merchant category codes to identify Mississippi firearms purchases.

"Nothing in this section shall be construed to require or allow the registration, documentation or providing of serial numbers with regard to any stun gun or firearm."

Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-101(18); HB 1110 (2023) Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act statute

Mississippi has not enacted any extreme risk protection order (red flag) statute. No state-law mechanism exists for a court to order temporary removal of firearms from a person deemed an imminent risk to self or others outside the standard domestic violence and mental-health civil commitment processes.

"Mississippi has not enacted any extreme risk protection order law."

Mississippi — no extreme risk protection order statute secondary

Mississippi has no state assault-weapon ban and the firearm-preemption statute bars counties and municipalities from adopting any ordinance that restricts the possession, carrying, transportation, sale, transfer, or ownership of firearms, ammunition, or their components.

"no county or municipality may adopt any ordinance that restricts the possession, carrying, transportation, sale, transfer or ownership of firearms or ammunition or their components."

Mississippi — no assault-weapon ban; preemption at Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-51 statute

Mississippi imposes no magazine-capacity limit, and the state preemption statute bars local governments from adopting one. 'Components of firearms or ammunition' fall expressly within the scope of preempted local regulation.

"no county or municipality may adopt any ordinance that restricts the possession, carrying, transportation, sale, transfer or ownership of firearms or ammunition or their components."

Mississippi — no magazine-capacity statute; preemption at Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-51 statute

Suppressors, short-barreled rifles (SBRs), short-barreled shotguns (SBSs), and machine guns are regulated under the federal National Firearms Act and require ATF registration and the federal transfer-tax process.

"The National Firearms Act (NFA) imposes a statutory excise tax on the manufacture and transfer of certain firearms and mandates the registration of those firearms."

26 U.S.C. ch. 53 (National Firearms Act) / ATF atf

Mississippi does not separately prohibit suppressors, short-barreled rifles, or short-barreled shotguns at the state level — they are lawful to possess when held in compliance with the federal NFA. Machine guns are referenced in § 97-37-1's concealed-carry prohibition; possession is governed by federal NFA compliance. As of 2024, HB 903 ('Deputy Jeremy Malone Act') made the manufacture, possession, or use of a machine-gun conversion device (such as a 'Glock switch') a felony unless the person is otherwise authorized by federal law.

"Any person who carries, concealed on or about one's person, any ... pistol, revolver, or any rifle with a barrel of less than sixteen (16) inches in length, or any shotgun with a barrel of less than eighteen (18) inches in length, machine gun or any fully automatic firearm or deadly weapon ..."

Miss. Code Ann. § 97-37-1 (machine guns); HB 903 (2024) machine-gun conversion devices statute

Mississippi preempts local regulation of firearms: no county or municipality may adopt any ordinance restricting possession, carrying, transportation, sale, transfer, or ownership of firearms or ammunition or their components. The statute also bars public housing authorities from prohibiting lawful firearm possession in tenants' dwelling units.

"Subject to the provisions of Section 45-9-53, no county or municipality may adopt any ordinance that restricts the possession, carrying, transportation, sale, transfer or ownership of firearms or ammunition or their components."

Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-51 statute

The preemption statute carves out narrow areas where local governments retain authority: regulating discharge of firearms within municipal/county limits, requiring citizens or public employees to be armed for lawful purposes, regulating uses via fire code/zoning/land-use rules not used to circumvent the preemption, and regulating concealed-carry in public parks and certain public meetings via signage. Open carry in public parks and meetings is generally preserved.

"Nothing in Section 45-9-51 shall affect ... the authority of the local government to regulate the discharge of firearms within the limits of the local government's jurisdiction."

Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-53 (preemption exceptions) statute

House Bill 786, signed by Governor Phil Bryant on April 15, 2016, and effective July 1, 2016, added § 45-9-101(24) — the now-iconic 'no license required for ... sheath, belt holster or shoulder holster or ... purse, handbag, satchel, other similar bag or briefcase or fully enclosed case' provision. The bill also created the Church Protection Act allowing church-designated security teams to carry firearms with statutory immunity, amended § 97-37-9 to add a corresponding defense, and amended § 97-3-15 to recognize defensive force by a church-security-team member as justifiable.

"No license shall be required under this section for a loaded or unloaded pistol or revolver carried upon the person in a sheath, belt holster or shoulder holster or carried in a purse, handbag, satchel, other similar bag or briefcase or fully enclosed case."

HB 786 (2016) — Mississippi Church Protection Act statute

House Bill 1110, signed April 13, 2023 and effective January 1, 2024, prohibits any state agency or political subdivision — and any other public or private person — from keeping a registry of privately owned firearms or firearm owners. It also prohibits financial institutions from requiring a firearms-specific merchant category code to track or distinguish Mississippi firearm retailers from general merchandise or sporting goods retailers, and from discriminating against firearm retailers based on code assignment.

"prohibit ... a financial institution from using a firearms code to engage in certain discriminatory conduct in the state."

HB 1110 (2023) — Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act statute

House Bill 903, signed by Governor Tate Reeves on April 30, 2024, makes it a felony to manufacture, possess, sell, or use a machine-gun conversion device (such as a so-called 'Glock switch') unless the person is otherwise authorized by federal law. Penalties include up to 10 years' imprisonment and up to a $3,000 fine.

"any person who manufactures, possesses, or uses a machine gun conversion device and who is not otherwise authorized by federal law to do so shall be guilty of a felony."

HB 903 (2024) — Deputy Jeremy Malone Act (machine-gun conversion devices) statute

House Bill 1793, signed in April 2026 and effective July 1, 2026, expands Mississippi's annual Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday (held on the last weekend of August each year) to exempt retail sales of firearm safes from state sales tax during the holiday.

"exempt[s] retail sales of firearm safes from state sales tax during Mississippi's annual Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday."

HB 1793 (2026) — Firearm safe sales-tax exemption statute

Senate Bill 2394, effective July 1, 2015, was the first piece of the two-step permitless-carry framework codified at Miss. Code § 45-9-101(24). It added the language declaring that no license is required for a pistol or revolver carried in a purse, handbag, satchel, similar bag, briefcase, or fully enclosed case. The sheath/belt holster/shoulder holster language was added a year later by HB 786 (2016).

SB 2394 (2015) — Fully-enclosed-case permitless carry statute

House Bill 2, signed by Governor Phil Bryant in February 2013 and effective July 1, 2013 (after the Mississippi Supreme Court lifted a temporary injunction in August 2013), amended § 97-37-1 to add a statutory definition of 'concealed' that excludes a loaded or unloaded pistol carried in a sheath, belt holster, or shoulder holster — or in a scabbard or carrying case — that is wholly or partially visible. The amendment clarified that holstered open carry is not 'carrying concealed' and therefore is not subject to the § 97-37-1 prohibition.

HB 2 (2013) — Open-carry clarification of 'concealed' statute

House Bill 1793, signed in April 2026 and effective July 1, 2026, expands Mississippi's annual Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday (held on the last weekend of August each year) to exempt retail sales of firearm safes from state sales tax during the holiday.

House Bill 1793 (2026 Regular Session)

House Bill 903, signed by Governor Tate Reeves on April 30, 2024, makes it a state felony to manufacture, possess, sell, or use a machine-gun conversion device (such as a 'Glock switch') unless the person is otherwise authorized by federal law. Penalties include up to 10 years' imprisonment and up to a $3,000 fine. The act is named for George County Deputy Jeremy Malone, killed in January 2024 by a firearm equipped with such a device.

House Bill 903 (2024 Regular Session)

House Bill 1110, signed April 13, 2023 and effective January 1, 2024, prohibits any state agency, political subdivision, or other public or private person from keeping a registry of privately owned firearms or their owners. It also bars financial institutions from requiring a firearms-specific merchant category code or discriminating against firearm retailers based on code assignment.

House Bill 1110 (2023 Regular Session)

House Bill 786, signed April 15, 2016 by Governor Phil Bryant and effective July 1, 2016, added the now-codified Miss. Code § 45-9-101(24) declaring that no license is required for a pistol or revolver carried in a sheath, belt holster, shoulder holster, purse, briefcase, or fully enclosed case. The act also authorized church-designated security teams to carry firearms with statutory immunity and amended the justifiable-homicide statute to cover security-team members.

House Bill 786 (2016 Regular Session)