Mississippi has a shall-issue policy for gun laws in the state. All permits are issued by the Department of Public Safety.

Residents and non-residents with an already existing permit can apply for CCW permits. Also, no other permit is required to purchase a firearm in the state.

Depending on the type of Mississippi CCW you have, some areas are restricted by gun laws where you cannot possess a firearm.

Mississippi Gun Laws

Mississippi issues two types of concealed carry permit, the standard firearm permits, and the enhanced firearm permit.

The enhanced permit does not have as many restrictions as the standard permit. You must be a resident and at least twenty-one years old before applying for the Mississippi CCW permit.

Military members who are eighteen years old or more can also apply for a permit.

If you want a Mississippi non-residents permit, then you must first provide a valid permit from your state of residence.

Mississippi CCW Permit Reciprocity

In Mississippi, you can conceal carry without a permit as long as your gun is in its holster. This is because of the state’s permitless policy.

Therefore, if you are non-resident in Mississippi, you do not require your state permit to possess a firearm in the state.

Other aspects of Mississippi reciprocity include the following:

• States that Mississippi will honor their permits: Mississippi honors every other states’ valid CCW permit. The permitless policy allows you to conceal carry without a license. However, you must meet all Mississippi age requirements for gun possession before carrying a firearm in the state.
• States that will honor Mississippi CCW permit: These states will allow your concealed carry within their territory, as long as you have a valid Mississippi CCW permit. There are seventeen of them. Also, in Oklahoma, you are allowed to conceal carry with just a Mississippi driver’s license or state’s id card.
• States that will honor restricted reciprocity with Mississippi: These states will honor just the residents-only permit from Mississippi and or only the enhanced firearm permit. There are six of them.
• States that run on permitless policy: These states, just like Mississippi, have a permitless policy for concealed carry, and you only have to meet the age requirement to possess a firearm in these states. However, depending on state rules, other restrictions may apply. There are thirteen of them.

You have to be very careful while conceal carrying in other states. Because you may not be familiar with the state gun laws, and ignorance is not an excuse.

Even if the state honors a Mississippi CCW permit, you still have to handle the firearms according to state laws.

Therefore, make sure that you understand the gun laws and concealed carry policy of any state that you are visiting.

Mississippi Location Restrictions

Since the state offers two types of CCW permit applications, each of them has its location restriction for concealed carrying.

Only law enforcement officers are permitted to conceal carry without restrictions in the state.

Places Where You Can Conceal Carry In Mississippi

Location restriction for a standard CCW permit include the following:

• You are not allowed to conceal carry in school premises, and this includes colleges, universities, and technical institutions.
• You are not allowed to conceal carry at any professional sporting event that does not have to do with firearms.
• You cannot conceal carry within the premises of a courthouse and during court proceedings.
• You cannot conceal carry in a police station or offices in your local county.

• You cannot conceal carry in a prison or any state correctional facility.
• You cannot conceal carry in a polling unit where voting is taking place.
• You cannot conceal carry during government officials meeting and that of a legislative body.
• You cannot conceal carry in a place of worship unless permitted by the security team in charge.
• You cannot conceal carry in any building or private property that has a post prohibiting the possession of firearms within the premises.
• You cannot conceal carry in recreational areas and public grounds.
• You cannot conceal carry in any organization that is licensed to manufacture alcoholic drinks.
• You cannot conceal carry during a public demonstration or a parade.
• You cannot conceal carry in airport terminals except if the firearm is in a case for transportation reasons.
• You cannot conceal carry in a place where the possession of firearms has been prohibited by federal laws.

For an Enhanced CCW Permit the following restrictions are regulated:

• You cannot conceal carry in educational surroundings, except on campus with your enhanced permit.
• You cannot conceal carry within the premises of a police station at the local sheriff’s office.
• You cannot conceal carry in a courtyard and during court proceedings except permitted by the chief judge in charge.
• You cannot conceal carry in secured areas of an airport.
• You cannot conceal carry in private buildings and properties that have signage prohibiting the possession of firearms within the premises. With a Mississippi enhanced CCW permit, this will be seen as trespassing instead of violation of gun laws.
• You cannot conceal carry in places restricted by federal laws.

Places Where You Can Conceal Carry In Mississippi

Mississippi gun laws do not restrict you from possessing your firearms in these places.

• Restaurants and Bars: You can conceal carry in restaurants, except there is a post that restricts the possession of a firearm. However, you are not allowed to conceal carry in bars, or under the influence of alcohol.
• Private Vehicle: You can conceal carry in your vehicle without a CCW permit as long as the firearm is enclosed in a holster, case, sheath, or bag.
• Roadsides: You can conceal carry along roadsides and rest areas.
• National parks and wildlife management areas: You can conceal carry in both states and national parks and forests.
• Places of worship: You can conceal carry in places of worship as long as the security team permits you to do so.

Conceal Carry For Law Enforcement Officers In Mississippi

The Federal Law Enforcement Officer safety law allows officers to conceal carry in every jurisdiction of the United States. Without location restriction or limitation due to states or municipality laws.

Officers of the law in this context are active, out of service, and retired officers.

Retired officers of the laws must obtain certification from the Mississippi association of police chiefs before they can conceal carry in the state.

Buying And Selling Of Firearm In Mississippi

Dealing with firearms in Mississippi is another major part of the state’s gun laws.

The rules and regulations here cover the sales, purchase, transportation, and transfer of firearms in Mississippi.

Purchasing Permits And Gun Law Regulations In The State

You do not require a purchasing permit to buy firearms in Mississippi. In the same vein, there is no handgun registration too.

However, it is crucial to keep your sales receipt after completing a purchase. This will help you claim ownership of your gun when necessary.

Criminal Background Check For Purchasing firearms In Mississippi

A background check is not a requirement to purchase firearms in Mississippi. But, other states and federal requirements like age restriction and identification cards are necessary.

Waiting Period For Firearm Purchase In Mississippi

There is no waiting period for completing firearms purchase in Mississippi. You get your gun as soon as you pay, and a receipt is issued to you.

Age Requirement For Dealing With Guns In Mississippi

Before you can sell, buy, possess, or transfer a firearm in the state, you must be at least eighteen years old.

This is different from the Mississippi CCW permit age requirement, which is twenty-one years old.

Possession Of Firearms On Private Properties

You do not need a permit to possess firearms in your home of residence, any private property or building that you own, and in a personal vehicle.

Castle Doctrine In Mississippi

The state of Mississippi has a stand your ground castle doctrine law. The law, in this case, does not apply to just your home of residence.

If you are not the initial aggressor, and not involved in any illegal activity, you do not have a duty to retreat without using excessive force against an attacker or intruder, as long as you are where you are supposed to be.

Mississippi castle doctrine policy can be used to prove that a person is acting on self-defense and will gain immunity from a civil case. This means that you cannot be found guilty of allegations in this context.

Mississippi CCW Permit Requirement

You need to meet all Mississippi concealed carry permit requirements provided by the gun law before you can apply for the permit

The conditions you must meet include the following:

• You must be of the minimum age of twenty-one or eighteen if you are a member of the United States Armed Force.
• For a residents permit, you must have lived in Mississippi for more than one year. This is not applicable for a non-resident permit, a permit for a member of the military and retired law enforcement officers in the state.
• You must not be a convict of a felony without state or federal pardon.
• You must not have any physical disability or deformity that can hinder you from safely handling a firearm.
• You must not be a convict of a misdemeanor for violence in the last three years.
• You must not be mentally impaired or apply for a Mississippi CCW permit in less than five years of gaining mental capacity.
• You must not be admitted to any psychiatric home or mental institution for mental instability unless you have a certificate from a doctor in charge to prove that you have not been a patient in the last five years.  
• You must not be a narcotic, drug abuser, or user of illicit substances that are under the control of the Drug Enforcement Agency.
• You must not be a fugitive or have an arrest warrant in your name.
• You must not be guilty of any felony case. Unless three years after you have completed your probation term, and all other court requirements are met.
• You must meet all federal laws that concern concealed carry permit application.

How To Apply For Mississippi CCW Permit

After meeting all requirements, then you can move on to Mississippi concealed carry permit application.

The process involves the following steps:

Complete Firearm Training

You will need to submit a certification that proves that you have completed Mississippi concealed carry permit course if you are applying for an enhanced CCW permit.

Make sure that you enroll for a firearm training class that is overseen by a certified instructor of the state before proceeding with the application.

Note that you do not need a training certificate for a standard concealed carry permit.

Fill The Application

Complete your application form and have it notarized by an officer.

Submit All Necessary Documents

Visit the Department of Public Safety with your notarized application and the following documents.

• Two identification forms
• A photograph to fit in the box provided in your application form.

Pay the necessary fee.

Your fingerprints will be taken at the Department of Public Safety.

Receive Notification Mail

A mail will be sent to you if your application is accepted.

How To Renew Mississippi CCW Permit

Ninety days before the expiry date of your CCW permit, you will receive a package from the department of public safety.

As soon as the package gets to you, you can start applying for a CCW renewal. The application must be filed alongside other documents before the expiry date.

Failure to submit a renewal application before this date means that you have to pay a fine of fifteen dollars within six months after the application has expired.

After these six months of grace, you will not be able to renew the Mississippi CCW permit anymore. You will have to apply for a new one if you choose to continue concealed carrying.

The renewal process includes the following:

Complete The Application

Download the renewal application from an online portal, fill, and then notarize it.

Submit Other Necessary Documents

Other things you need to provide with the renewal application include the following:

• Two means of identification
• A photograph that fits into the boxed space meant for it in the application.

Take these and submit them to the department of public safety.

Note that for renewal applications, mails are accepted. However, you must visit the DSP physically every ten years to obtain a recent photograph.

Receive Notification Mail

If your renewal is approved, you will get a mail to notify you.

Mississippi Firearm Training Requirement.

You do not need to complete a firearm training before applying for a standard permit.

However, an enhanced permit requires a Mississippi concealed carry permit class.

You can also apply for a Mississippi concealed carry permit online course.

Make sure that the program you are enrolling for is state-recognized with a DSP certified instructor.

Mississippi concealed carry permit course must include an eight hours’ firearm safety class.

Mississippi Concealed Carry FAQs.

Here are some frequently asked questions you should know about Mississippi CCW.

How Long Is My Mississippi CCW Permit Valid?

After your initial application, your CCW permit is valid for five years. Upon renewal, the application will be valid for just four years.

How Much Will Mississippi CCW Application Cost?

The costs for CCW permit application are as follows

• Initial permit: One hundred and twelve dollars?
• Renewal application: Seventy-two dollars for normal renewal and fifty-two dollars for applicants that are sixty-five years old or more.
• The late renewal fine is fifteen dollars.

How Long Will It Take Me To Get My Mississippi Permit?

The processing period for a Mississippi CCW permit is forty days.

Additional Resources

Mississippi Gun Laws
Mississippi Open Carry Laws
Mississippi Gun Permit Laws