Mississippi is a constitutional carry state with permission to possess firearms.
However, the state, like every other in the USA, has gun laws to restrict where and how you can handle firearms within its jurisdiction.
To open carry in Mississippi, you must be familiar with these gun laws.
Mississippi Gun Laws Summary
Mississippi issues two types of licenses for firearm possession in the state, a standard permit, and an enhanced permit.
The state department of public safety is in charge of accepting or rejecting permit applications.
Mississippi is a shall-issue state, so as long as you meet all the requirements to possess firearms, you can get a permit.
You, however, do not need a license to purchase firearms in the state. But you must complete a background check to buy firearms from licensed dealers.
With either of the state permits to carry, you will be exempted from completing the criminal record background check.
The age requirement for applying for a permit to carry in Mississippi is twenty-one years old.
- Recommended Reading: Mississippi Gun Laws
Is It Legal To Open Carry In Mississippi?
Yes. You can legally open carry in the state as long as you are eighteen years old and you do not have any state or federal restrictions to possess firearms.
Convicted felons cannot open carry or use firearms in Mississippi.
Open Carry Laws In Mississippi
Mississippi is a permissive open carry state, and you do not need a permit to open carry within its territory.
The state also allows all types of ammunition and assault firearms as long as you have them registered and comply with federal regulations.
Mississippi Open Gun Law Quick View
| Law/Policy | Long Guns | Handguns | Comments |
| State permit for open carry. | No | No | There are no requirements to own a state permit before you open carry in Mississippi. |
| Firearm registrations for open carry. | No | No | Mississippi gun laws do not require registration of firearms in the state except assault weapons that must be licensed and carried in compliance with federal regulations. |
| Assault weapon for open carry. | Yes | Yes | Mississippi gun allows the possession of assault weapons like machine guns and semiautomatic firearms that are legally registered and possessed in compliance with federal laws and regulations. |
| Magazine limit | No | No | There are no regulations for the number of fire rounds in a magazine for guns in Mississippi. |
| License for the owner of a firearm. | Not required | Not required | Mississippi gun statutes do not have other recommendations for owners license to carry a firearm in the state. |
| Red flag law | No | No | There are no red flag laws in Mississippi. Gun laws do not make mention of any type of protection or restriction order in the state. |
| Castle doctrine law | Yes | Yes | Mississippi is a castle doctrine state with no duty to retreat as long as you are in a place you have legal rights to be |
| Background check for private dealers | No | No | Background check for private dealers of firearms in the state is not mandatory. Only state and federally licensed dealers must compulsorily carry out a background check before selling guns. |
| Preemption | Yes | Yes | Mississippi preempts gun laws in the state, and the state government laws supersedes does of local municipalities. But regulation of the discharge of firearms in regional areas is permitted. |
| Concealed carry permit. | Yes | Yes | You cannot conceal carry in Mississippi without obtaining a standard concealed carry permit or an enhanced permit., |
| Concealed carry in personal vehicle | Yes | Yes | You can conceal carry in your car, but the firearm must be kept away from plain sight, and you must have your permit with you. |
| Open carry in Schools | No | No | The state prohibits open carry or concealed carry of a firearm and other types of weapons in schools, colleges, universities, and technical institutions. |
Where Is It Legal To Open Carry In Mississippi?
You can possess firearms and open carry in the following areas in Mississippi.
- Restaurants and bars: You can open carry in the eatery area of restaurants and bars as long as no post prohibits the possession of firearms on the premises.
- Personal vehicle: You can open carry in your car as long as the firearm is in plain view.
- Roadsides: You can open carry along roadsides in the state.
- State parks and forests: You can open carry in Mississippi forests and parks as well as wildlife management areas.
Where Is It Illegal To Open Carry In Mississippi?
Mississippi gun law prohibits the possession of firearms in the following parts of the state.
- Schools: You cannot open carry in elementary or secondary schools, colleges, and any university facilities.
- Stadiums: You cannot possess firearms or open carry in any professional athletic fields or stadiums in the state.
- Courthouses: You cannot open carry in premises of a courthouse or during a court proceeding.
- Prison: You cannot possess firearms or open carry in any state prison, jail, correctional home, or detention facility.
- During elections: You cannot open carry or possess firearms in any polling unit during elections in the state.
- Legislative meeting: You cannot open carry in any meeting organized by the state legislative body.
- Places of worship: You cannot open carry in any church, mosque, or synagogue in the state, except for members of the security team.
- Personal properties and buildings: You cannot open carry in any private building or property that has a post prohibiting the possession of firearms within the premises.
- Alcohol establishments: You cannot open carry in any place that sells alcohol for on-site consumption.
- Airports: You cannot open carry in any secured zone or airport terminal in the state except if you are transporting firearms, in which case it must be encased and unloaded.
- Prohibited places: You cannot open carry in any Tennessee valley authority property or places prohibited by the federal laws.
FAQs About Open Carry Mississippi
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about open carry in Mississippi.
Do I Need A Permit to Open Carry in Mississippi?
No. You are not required to obtain a permit for open carry in Mississippi.
Do I Need A Permit For Concealed Carry permit in Mississippi?
Yes. You cannot conceal carry in Mississippi without a firearm permit.
The permit could either be a standard or an enhanced permit.
An enhanced permit will help you possess firearms in other states that have reciprocity with Mississippi.
At What Age Can I Begin To Open Carry In Mississippi?
You can open carry in Mississippi as long as you are eighteen years old or more.
What Is The Age Requirement For Concealed Carry In Mississippi?
To conceal carry in Mississippi you must be at least twenty-one years old.
At What Age Can I Apply For Mississippi Permit?
You must be at least twenty-one years old before you apply for a Mississippi license to carry.
Members of the United States Armed Forces have a minimum age requirement of eighteen.
Does Mississippi Have Red Flag Law In The State?
No. Mississippi gun law does not make mention of red flag law or protection and restriction orders.
Is Mississippi Firearm Permit Available For Non-residents Of The State?
Yes. Non-residents of the state can apply for Mississippi standard permits to carry firearms.
Is Mississippi A Constitutional Carry State?
Yes. Mississippi is a constitutional carry state.
You do not require a license to carry a firearm in your bag, a sheath, purse, holster, etc., as long as you are not committing a crime with it, and you respect all location restrictions for possession of firearms.
Does Mississippi Permit The Open Carry Of Firearms In The State?
It is legal to open carry knives in Mississippi as long as the knife is not prohibited, and you are not under age or a convicted felon.
Mississippi prohibits minors and felons from the possession of weapons like bowie, switchblades, dirks, etc.
Also, generally, it is illegal to conceal carry dirks, switchblade knives, bowie, etc., except if you are in your dwelling place or your vehicle.
Furthermore, the state prohibits the open carry of knives on any educational premises or in school buses.
Does Mississippi Have Firearm Restrictions For Open Carry?
No. You can lawfully possess every firearm in Mississippi, including assault weapons, as long as you register it and comply with all federal laws while handling such firearms.
Do I Need A Purchase Permit To Buy Firearms In Mississippi?
No. Mississippi does not issue a purchase permit to buy firearms in the state.
Is It Compulsory To Complete A Criminal Record Background Check Before Buying A Firearm In Mississippi?
Yes, as long as you are buying the firearm from a state or federally licensed dealer, you must complete the criminal record background check.
Those with Mississippi permits to carry firearms will be excluded from this check.
When Will My Mississippi Permit To Carry Firearm Expire?
Initial permits have a validation period of five years, after which you have to renew.
Upon renewal, the permit will be valid for four months.
Must I Notify Law Enforcement Officers About My Possession of Firearms In Mississippi?
No, you are under no obligation to inform a law enforcement officer you encounter about your possession of a firearm.
Does Mississippi Have Castle Doctrine Policy?
Yes. Mississippi is a castle doctrine state with a duty to stand your ground policy as long as you are in a place where you have lawful rights to be.
Can I Make Use Of Deadly Force During Self Defense In Mississippi?
Yes. As long as you are not the instigator of an attack or you are not engaging in any form of criminal or illicit behavior, you can make use of deadly force if it is reasonable to protect yourself from severe bodily harm or imminent death.
Mississippi will provide you with immunity against civil liability if you make use of deadly force while exercising your self-defense rights.
Must I Complete A Firearm Training Before Applying For Mississippi Permit To Carry?
No. There are no requirements to complete a firearm training before applying for a permit to carry a firearm in Mississippi.
Is It Compulsory To Register A Firearm After Buying It In Mississippi?
Mississippi gun laws do not require registration of firearms upon purchase, except assault weapons that must be registered before possession in the state.
Relevant Open Carry Law And Legislature In Mississippi
Some of Mississippi gun laws that concern open carry in the state and will help you with your day to day possession of firearms include the following:
No Weapons Sign
Mississippi enforces the no weapon post in the state.
Any owner or person that has authority over property has the discretion to erect signage or post on the property to prohibit the possession of firearms.
The post must be visible from at least ten feet away from the building, and the message must be clear.
Preemption Laws
Mississippi is a preemption gun law state, which means that the state government statutes supersede those of local areas.
However, the state still permits local municipalities and counties to regulate the shooting of firearms in the following places:
- Parks and general meetings of those in the authority of counties, municipalities, and every other government body.
- Political rally in the state or during a parade.
- Schools, colleges, and professional sporting activities that are not related to firearms.
- Anybody that violates Mississippi preemption law will face a penalty of pay a fine of at least one thousand dollars.
Brandishing Of Firearms In Mississippi
A person will be guilty of deadly weapon violations if he or she uses a firearm or any other dangerous weapons in a threatening manner.
A person shall not brandish or don a firearm at another person except for self-defense or if it is legal.
A person shall not use a firearm during a fight or quarrel, and it does not matter if the gun is loaded or discharged.
Open Carry While Hunting In Mississippi
You can open carry with your firearm while hunting in the state, and this does not exclude bow hunting.
However, to conceal carry while hunting in Mississippi, you must own a state permit.
Mississippi has hunter harassment laws in the state to protect hunting activities, and they include the following:
- Nobody shall deliberately interfere with a licensed hunting activity in the state or the legal taking of games in wildlife.
- Nobody shall disturb animals in the wild in such a way that it will affect the animal’s behaviors, making it difficult for legal hunting activities to take place.
- Nobody shall disturb or harass anybody who is taking part in the legal hunting of wildlife in Mississippi.
- Nobody shall trespass on private or state-owned property to carry out hunting activity without permission from the owner of the property or the authority in charge.
Additional Resources
Mississippi Gun Laws
Mississippi Concealed Carry Laws
Mississippi Gun Permit Laws
