“The right of every citizen to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person, or property, or in aid of the civil power when thereto legally summoned, shall not be called in question, but the legislature may regulate or forbid carrying concealed weapons.”
AT A GLANCE
Mississippi is a shall-issue, constitutional carry state. There is no permit, background check or firearms registration required when buying from a private individual. Open carry is legal in Mississippi for anyone at least 18. Concealed carry is legal without a permit and statutes don’t address the minimum age. In terms of reciprocity, any person may carry a concealed firearm without a license or permit. Mississippi is a Castle Doctrine state and has a “stand your ground” law. A person has no duty to retreat. A person acting in justifiable self-defense is immune from civil suits if found “not guilty” in criminal proceedings.
Reciprocal Carry
By statute, Mississippi will recognize another state’s license to carry. If You will be traveling on the Natchez Trace Federal Parkway, please contact them directly at (662)842-1572 for their rules & regulation on transporting Your firearm.”
Anyone contemplating reciprocal carry should check with the current official list maintained by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety at the point in time the reciprocal carry is to occur.
Duty To Notify Police Officer
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 LEO.
Carrying Firearms In Vehicles
Mississippi permits anyone who may legally possess a firearm to carry it in a motor vehicle without a permit, openly or concealed.
Constitutional Carry
Mississippi permits anyone who is at least 21 years old and not prohibited from owning firearms to carry a handgun without a permit, openly or concealed.
NFA Items
Mississippi permits ownership of all NFA items, provided they are legally obtained pursuant to federal law. Hunting with suppressors is legal.
Self-Defense Laws
Mississippi has both Castle Doctrine and SYG laws. There is no duty to retreat from any place You have a legal right to be. You may use force, including deadly force, in defense of yourself or others if You reasonably believe it is necessary to prevent imminent death, SBI, the commission of a forcible felony, or to stop the commission of any felony against You, upon or in any dwelling, in any occupied vehicle, in any place of business.
Carry In Restaurants That Serve Alcohol
Mississippi has no laws prohibiting the carrying of firearms in restaurants that serve alcohol. You can carry in a restaurant that serves alcohol. Places like Fridays or Chili’s unless they have a “No Gun Sign,” then You are prohibited from carrying a firearm into the establishment. This does not include a bar or the bar area of a restaurant – You are prohibited from carrying into these areas. You can carry Your firearm into a restaurant that serves alcohol, but you are prohibited from consuming alcohol while carrying a firearm.
Do “No Gun Signs” Have The Force Of Law?
If a property or establishment has a “No Guns” sign or the person in lawful possession communicates to you that guns are not allowed, You are prohibited from carrying on the property or into the establishment. Failure to obey such signs or verbal warnings constitutes trespass.
Open Carry
You can open carry in Mississippi without any type of permit/license. Remember that if You enter any property and the owner/responsible person asks You to leave, You must leave. Failure to leave can result in trespass charges. The minimum age for open carry is 18.
DISCLAIMER: The Gun Laws by State Guide (GLBSG) was created to provide its readers with a general educational resource tool to explore the pertinent gun laws in Your jurisdiction.
However, the GLBSG was not researched and/or written by attorneys as a specific legal guide to rely upon. Instead, it is a starting point for your own research. In addition, all laws are always subject to reasonable, but different, legal interpretation as to meaning and application.
As such, the GLBSG is not intended to supplant, nor limit, Your need for independent verification of any and all material contained herein and consultation with competent counsel of choice regarding any specific issues.
This type of specific legal analysis is necessarily beyond the general educational objective of the GLBSG and for which a bar-admitted attorney in the particular state(s) is needed and required. The content of this GLBSG is a general restatement of the law.
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