Mississippi is a constitutional carry state, but still issues gun licenses for the possession of firearms.

To apply, you must meet all requirements provided by Mississippi pistol permit laws.

Mississippi Gun Permit Summary

Mississippi has a shall-issue policy for gun permits in the state. The department of public safety is in charge of the processing.

The state does not issue a purchase permit.

• Recommended Reading: Mississippi Gun Laws

How To Get A Gun Permit In Mississippi?

You can apply for a Mississippi gun permit if you are twenty-one years old or more, and you do not have restrictions to use firearms.

Mississippi is a permissive open carry state.

Mississippi Gun Permit Laws

Open carry is legal in Mississippi for anyone that is eighteen years old without a federal or state prohibition to possess firearms.

However, there are off-limit places in the state where you cannot open carry firearms.

Mississippi allows the possession of assault weapons such as machine guns and semi-automatic weapons for only federally licensed individuals, law enforcement officers, government officials, and military members.

Mississippi Pistol Permit Requirements

For the successful application of a Mississippi gun license, you must meet all requirements provided by gun laws of the state, and they 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 live in Mississippi for more than one year.
• 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 permit in less than five years of gaining mental capacity.
• You must not be a patient of 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 under the Drug Enforcement Agency’s control.
• 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.
• You must meet all federal laws that concern concealed carry permit application.

Different Types Of Gun Permits In Mississippi

A summary of firearms permits in Mississippi includes the following:

• State permit to purchase long guns: Mississippi does not issue a state permit to purchase long guns.
• State permits to purchase handguns: Mississippi does not issue a state permit to purchase handguns.
• State permit to open carry: Mississippi is a permissive state, so no license required to open carry.
• State permits to conceal carry long guns: Mississippi does not issue a state permit to conceal long weapons.
• State permits to conceal carry handguns: Mississippi issues a pistol permit to conceal carry guns in the state.

How Much Does It Cost To Get A Gun License In Mississippi?

The price for an initial permit application in Mississippi is one hundred and twelve dollars.

Renewal permits cost seventy-two dollars for residents younger than sixty-five years old. For older residents, the price is fifty-two dollars.

Late renewal fees in Mississippi cost fifteen dollars.

Gun Permits Application And Renewal Law In Mississippi?

To apply for Mississippi pistol permit, you must meet the following requirements:

Complete Firearm Training

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

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 and take your fingerprints at the Department of Public Safety.

Ninety days before your permit’s expiry date, you will receive a package from the department of public safety, and you can then begin the permit renewal process.

You must file the application 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 expiry date.

After these six months’ grace, you will not be able to renew the Mississippi permit anymore, and you have to apply for a new one.

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, you can send them by mail. However, you must visit the DSP physically every ten years to obtain a recent photograph.

Gun Permit Reciprocity With Mississippi

Mississippi is a permitless carry state, and you can possess firearms with or without a permit.

Other aspects of its reciprocity include the following:

States That Mississippi Will Accept Their Pistol Permit

Mississippi will accept a pistol permit issued by any jurisdiction in the United States of America. Also, it is a permitless carry state, and you do not need a license to possess firearms.

States That Recognize Mississippi Pistol Permits

You can possess firearms in these states if you have a Mississippi pistol permit. But regardless, you must compulsorily handle firearms according to their gun laws. They are:

• Alabama
• Georgia
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Louisiana
• Montana
• New Mexico
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming
• Puerto Rico

States That Have Restricted Reciprocity With Mississippi

You can possess firearms in these states with a Mississippi pistol permit, but you must meet other requirements provided by statutes. The states are:

• Colorado
• Florida
• Michigan
• Nevada
• Pennsylvania
• South Carolina

States That Have Permitless Carry Policy

Just like Mississippi, these states do not require a permit for the possession of firearms in their territory. They include the following:

• Arizona
• Alaska
• Arkansas
• Idaho
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Maine
• Missouri
• New Hampshire
• Oklahoma
• South Dakota
• Vermont
• West Virginia

FAQs About Gun Permits In Mississippi

Some of the most frequently asked questions about pistol permit in Mississippi include the following:

Do I Need A Permit To Conceal Carry Firearms In Mississippi?

Yes, you can only conceal carry with a pistol permit in Mississippi.

How Long Is Mississippi Concealed Weapon Permit Valid?

An initial pistol permit is valid for five years, while renewal permits are valid for four years.

Can Non-Residents Apply For Mississippi Firearm Permits?

Mississippi will issue a standard pistol permit to you as a non-resident if you satisfy the following requirements:

• You must have a valid pistol permit from another state.
• You are a member of the United States Armed Forces posted to active duties in the state.
• You are a retired law enforcement officer that just moved to the state.

How Many Types Of Pistol Permits Does Mississippi Issue?

Mississippi issues two types of pistol permits. A standard license for non-residents and residents and an enhanced permit for individuals that are residents of the state for at least one year.

How Can I Change The Name And Address On My Mississippi Gun License?

You must notify the department of public safety within thirty days of effecting the name or address change.

The notification must be in writing and must include the new and old addresses or names, your permit number, and a phone number.

The licensing department will update your permit and mail it to you.

What Can I Do If I Lost My Mississippi Permit Or It Gets Stolen?

For missing or stolen permits, you must notify the Mississippi department of public safety within thirty days of losing the license.

The notification will be a statement or affidavit, and it must be notarized. You will get a duplicate permit.

How Soon Can I Apply For Mississippi Pistol Permit After Moving To The State?

Upon moving to Mississippi, you can apply for the standard pistol permit after getting a state driver’s license or any other identification card.

For an enhanced pistol permit, you must live in the state for at least one year.

Can I Make Use Of Mississippi Pistol Permit After Moving To Another State In The Country?

No, if you move to another state, your Mississippi pistol permit expires automatically and becomes invalid.

Do I Need A Mississippi Pistol Permit To Open Carry In The State?

No, you do not need a pistol permit to open carry in Mississippi.

Mississippi is a permissive open carry state, and as long as you are eighteen years old or more, you can possess a firearm in the state.

What Is The Minimum Age Requirement To Apply For A Mississippi Pistol Permit?

You must be at least twenty-one years old or eighteen years old for military members.

Do I need A Permit To Purchase Firearms In Mississippi?

No, you do not need a purchase permit to buy firearms in Mississippi.

Does My Firearm Permit Exempt Me From Completing A Criminal Record Background Check Before Buying Firearms In Mississippi?

Yes, pistol permit holders in Mississippi do not need to complete a criminal record check to possess firearms in the state.

Do I Need A Mississippi Gun Permit To Possess Firearms In My Private Property?

No, you do not need a gun permit to possess firearms in your private properties, or personal business place.

Do I Need To Complete A Firearm Training Before Applying For A Mississippi Gun Permit?

Yes. It is compulsory to complete firearm training before applying for an enhanced gun license.

What Is The Processing Period For Firearm Permits In Mississippi?

Forty-five days.

Is Mississippi A Preemption Gun Law State?

Yes, the Mississippi state government reserves all rights to regulate the possession of firearms in the state.

What Is The Age Requirement To Possess Firearms In Mississippi?

You must be at least eighteen years old to carry firearms in Mississippi.

Relevant Gun Permit Laws And Legislature In Mississippi

Some of Mississippi gun laws relating to the use of a gun license and possession of firearms in the state include the following:

Possession Of Firearms In Private Vehicles

According to Mississippi gun statutes, [Miss. Code Ann. § 97-37-1(2)][Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-101(24)], as long as you do not have any prohibition for the possession of firearms, you can carry it in your vehicle.

Handguns can be in holsters, sheaths, bags, or any firearm case.

Possession Of Firearms In Roadside Areas

Mississippi gun laws allow the concealed carry of firearms in rest areas along roadsides.

Possession Of Firearms In State Forests, Parks, And Wildlife Management Areas

According to, [MDWFP Title 40-6-1.2(T)(1)], as long as you have a Mississippi firearm permit, you can conceal carry in these areas of the state

Possession Of Firearms In Restaurant And Bar Ventures

You can only conceal carry in the restaurant area of such ventures, except there is a post prohibiting the possession of firearms within the premises.

However, it is prohibited to possess firearms in car areas, with or without a Mississippi pistol permit.

[Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-101(13)]

Possession Of Firearms In Hotels

According to the statute, [Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-101(13)], Mississippi gun laws allow owners of private properties in the state to regulate or prohibit the possession of firearms within their premises. This law applies to Hotels and similar establishments.

Any hotel that does not allow the possession of firearms on their premises must have a post prohibiting it.

Hotels can also develop privacy policies for the regulation of firearms within their premises. Hence, you can visit their website for more information concerning this.

Possession Of Firearms In Employee Parking Lots

Mississippi gun statute, [Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-55], indicates that no employee or landlord may come up with any policy that restricts the possession of firearms in a vehicle in a parking lot.

Additional Resources

Mississippi Gun Laws
Mississippi Concealed Carry Laws
Mississippi Open Carry Laws