• Home
  • Missouri Gun Laws
  • Missouri Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW): Gun Laws, Application, Requirements & Online Training

Missouri has a shall-issue policy for CCW permits done at the local sheriff’s level.

In Missouri, you can only apply for resident permits. Non-residents permits are for just members of the armed forces that posted to the state.

But the state has a permitless policy, and you do not require a license to possess firearms.

However, there are certain restrictions for the possession of firearms in Missouri that you must know if you intend to conceal carry in the state.

Missouri gun Laws

You need to be nineteen years old or more before Missouri concealed carry permit application.

The only exception to this is eighteen years old for members of the military.

Non-residents permits are strictly for members of the United States Armed Forces posted for active service in the state.

The gun laws of the state also restrict the usage of firearms in certain areas defined as off-limits.

If found with a CCW in these locations, you will get charged for unlawful usage of firearms.

Missouri CCW Reciprocity

Missouri has a permitless carry policy for firearms, and if you are above the age of nineteen you can possess a weapon within a CCW permit

Other aspects of Missouri reciprocity include the following:

  • States that Missouri will accept their CCW permit: Missouri will accept a CCW permit from every other state in the country. You are also allowed to conceal carry without a license in the state. The only requirement to do this is that you must be at least nineteen years old, the age requirement for gun possession in the state.
  • States that will accept Missouri CCW permits: With a Missouri permit, you can conceal carry in these states. There are four them. In Oklahoma, residents of Missouri can conceal carry without any permit, as long as they have a means of identification to prove that they are from Missouri.
  • States that have restricted reciprocity with Missouri: You are only allowed to conceal carry if you have a resident-only permit from Missouri. In Wisconsin, only resident-only Missouri CCW permits issued after October in year twenty-thirteen will be accepted. Seventeen other states have such reciprocity with Missouri.
  • States that have a permitless policy: These states do not require any type of permit before you can conceal carry within their territory. However, some states enact other requirements to conceal carry like location restriction and minimum age. There are thirteen of them.

Before you conceal carry in other states, even if they accept a Missouri CCW permit, make sure that you familiarize yourself with their gun laws.

For example, most of the states that accept restricted reciprocity with Missouri will only honor your permit if you are at least twenty-one years old.

So even if you meet the age requirement to own a CCW permit in Missouri (nineteen years old), you are not allowed to conceal carry in those states.

Understanding little disparities in state gun laws can help keep you out of trouble, especially when you visit other states where you intend to conceal carry.

Missouri CCW Location Restriction

Either you have Missouri CCW permit, or you possess a firearm on the basis permitless carry, there are places where you cannot conceal carry.

These places are known as off-limits, and you will be arrested and charged if found with your firearms there.

Places Where You Cannot Conceal Carry In Missouri.

  • You cannot conceal carry within school facilities, and this includes elementary schools, secondary schools, and colleges. The only exception to this is if the management of school consents to conceal carry.
  • You cannon conceal carry within the premises of a children care building or a daycare center.
  • You cannot conceal carry in buildings or facilities that are used by the state’s law enforcement agencies.
  • You cannot conceal carry during elections or in any polling unit. The closest you are allowed to be with your firearm is twenty-five feet.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry within the premises of a prison, jail, or any other state correctional facility.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry within the premises of a courthouse, and this includes administrative offices, the courtroom, and libraries.
  • You cannot conceal carry during a meeting of local government officials or that of a committee of the general assembly.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry within the premises of an organization that deals in the manufacturing of alcoholic or intoxicating drinks.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry in certain areas of an airport that is under the control of inspection officers.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry within a building or property that is either owned, rented, or leased by the state government, counties, or municipalities.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry within a gambling house that is open to the general public.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry in an enclosed park with a gate.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry in churches or worship areas without the permission of the authorities in charge. The exception to this is possessing a firearm within the parking area of a worship place.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry within the premises of a privately owned building or property that has a post to prohibit possession of firearms.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry within a stadium or an arena with more than fifty thousand holding capacity.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry in general hospitals and health centers.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry in vehicles meant for public transportation.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry on metro trains.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry in areas restricted by federal laws.

Places Where You Can Conceal Carry In Missouri

Contrary to most opinions, Missouri gun laws do not restrict the possession of CCW in the following places.

  • Restaurants and Bars: You can conceal carry in the restaurant area only, except there is a signage that restricts the possession of forearms in these places.
  • Private Vehicles: You can conceal carry in your private vehicle.
  • Road areas: You can conceal carry in roadside and rest areas.
  • State forests and parks: You can conceal carry in national and state parks and forests, as well as wildlife management areas.

Conceal Carry For Law enforcement Officers In Missouri

United States laws allow law enforcement officers, active in service, out of service, and retired officers, to conceal carry in every jurisdiction of the country.

This law means that state or municipality laws cannot restrict officers of the law; hence they can conceal carry in all locations.

In Missouri, only law enforcement agencies can certify their officers for concealed carrying, after they must have qualified for a training program according to Law Enforcement Officers Safety Acts LEOSA.

If any Law enforcement agency in the state does not have the facilities or program to complete these training, officers from such agencies will not be allowed to conceal carry in the state.

Also, law enforcement agencies will be responsible for issuing retired officers who have firearm qualification with concealed carry certification.

This will happen at county and municipality levels.

Buying And Selling Of Firearms In Missouri

Before you buy, sell, transport, or transfer firearms in Missouri, you need to understand the process and state requirements.

Purchasing Permits, Background Checks, And Handgun Registration

Unlike in most states where you need to obtain a purchase permit before you buy a gun, this is not the same in Missouri.

If you are purchasing your firearm from a private seller, you may not have to undergo a criminal background check.

This is not the case with state and federal licensed sellers. Apart from the background check, you must also meet the age requirement for dealing with firearms according to Missouri state laws.

The state of Missouri does not also keep firearm rosters, and there is no gun registration to complete the purchase of a firearm.

Note that you should not lose your sales receipt after purchasing your firearm. The receipt can come in handy whenever you need to claim ownership of your gun.

Age Requirements For Dealing With Gun In Missouri

You need to be at least eighteen years old before you can transfer, transport, and possess a firearm in the state. 

However, the age limit for the Missouri CCW permit is nineteen years old.

Possession Of Firearm In Your Private Property

You do not require a permit to carry a firearm in your home of residence, a private vehicle, or any building or property that you have authority over.

Castle Doctrine In Missouri

Missouri is one of the states in America to adopt the castle doctrine “stand your ground” policy.

Unlike some other states where you are charged with no duty to retreat only in your home of residence, Missouri castle doctrine law extends this to anywhere you should legally be.

Also, when faced with an attack that could lead to bodily injury or death, you are not prohibited by any municipality law to use an equal amount of deadly force as a form of self-defense.

Missouri CCW Permit Requirements

You must meet all Missouri concealed carry permit requirements before you make an application.

If you come short off one, you most likely will have your application rejected.

The requirements are:

  • You must be nineteen years old or more, except you are a member of the military, in which case you must be at least eighteen.
  • You must be a legal citizen of the United States of America.
  • You must be a resident of Missouri or a member of the military posted to the state.
  • You must complete a firearm training course. This could also be a Missouri concealed carry permit online class.
  • You must not be a convict for any crime with more than a year jail term punishment, or a misdemeanor crime with a jail term of at most two years and does not involve the use of a firearm or any other CCW.
  • You must not be guilty of driving under the influence or the use of any illicit substance that is under the control of the Drug Enforcement Agency for five years before the Missouri CCW permit application.
  • You must not be a fugitive or have an arrest warrant in your name.
  • You must not be an out of service member of the United States Armed Forces discharged due to dishonorable characters.
  • You must not have a record of behavior that casts doubt on your ability to behave in a manner that does not consider you a threat to yourself or others.
  • You must not be mentally unstable or a patient in a medical institution for five years before you apply for a Missouri CCW application.
  • You must not have a protection order from a judge that restricts you from possessing CCW.
  • You must meet all other federal requirements for obtaining CCW permits.  

How To Apply For CCW Permit In Missouri

After meeting all CCW requirements as mentioned above, you can then apply for your Missouri concealed carry permit.

The process to do this includes the following:

Complete Your Firearm Training

You must complete your firearm training class. This consists of a Missouri concealed carry permit online class about firearm safety and the remaining program taught by a certified instructor.

Download Application

You can either download and complete a hard copy application or, you apply online. This depends on your county or municipality regulation

You also have to provide proof of residence that you live in that county.

Submit Application

You can either submit your application online or in the office of your local Sherriff.

You will be required to pay a designated amount, and your fingerprints will be collected.

Receive Approval Notification.

A mail will be sent to you if your Missouri concealed carry permit application is accepted.

Missouri Firearm Training Requirement

You need to complete a Missouri concealed carry permit class with eight hours of training.

The hours comprise of one hour online NRA training and the remaining seven hours overseen by a state-certified instructor.

These seven hours’ class must cover the following:

  • Safety techniques of handling firearms at home, in a shooting range, and during the possession of a gun.
  • Missouri concealed carry permit requirements that you must fulfill before the application of CCW permit from the residential county.
  • Missouri state laws that have to do with firearms and CCW.
  • Castle doctrine law concerning using justified deadly force.
  • A live-fire session for applicants to shoot a firearm for at least twenty rounds, from a standing position to an image silhouette, or a similar target that is seven yards away.

If you do not complete the online NRA firearm safety course, then your eight hours training most comprise of the following:

  • The basic techniques for marksmanship.
  • Safety and cleaning of CCW.
  • Storage of firearms in your home.

Any firearm class you are enrolling for must be state-approved with a certified instructor.

If not, the certificate for Missouri concealed carry permit application will be invalid and rejected.

Missouri Concealed Carry FAQs.

Here are some frequently asked questions about Missouri CCW.

How Long Is Missouri CCW Permit Valid?

A normal CCW permit is valid for five years, after which you can apply for a renewal.

However, there are options for renewing permits for ten, twenty years’ and a lifetime period.

Contact your local county for information on this.

How Long Will It Take To Complete My Missouri CCW Permit Application?

The processing time to complete your permit is forty-five days.

How Much Is a Missouri Concealed Carry Permit application?

Payments for CCW permit application are as follows:

  • Initial permit costs ninety-three dollars
  • Application for renewal costs fifty dollars
  • Other extended permits may cost as much as five hundred dollars.

Additional Resources

Missouri Gun Laws
Missouri Open Carry Laws
Missouri Gun Permit Laws

Get Your
Concealed Carry Weapons Permit 
Online In Minutes

About the Author

Follow me


{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}