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Concealed Carry Map

State profile · MS

Mississippi Concealed Carry Laws & Reciprocity

A Mississippi resident permit (Mississippi Individual Firearm Permit (License to Carry a Concealed Pistol or Revolver)) is honored in 35 of the other 50 US jurisdictions, and 2 more allow permitless carry even though they do not recognize the permit itself. In the other direction, Mississippi recognizes valid carry permits from every US state. Mississippi allows permitless concealed carry from age 18 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.

Open the interactive map for a Mississippi permit →

Mississippi concealed carry reciprocity map

Where a Mississippi resident permit is valid. Each state links to the rules for that trip.

Alabama: recognized — and permitless carry appliesALAlaska: recognized — and permitless carry appliesAKArizona: recognized — and permitless carry appliesAZArkansas: recognized — and permitless carry appliesARCalifornia: not recognizedCAColorado: recognized — carry with your permitCOConnecticut: not recognizedCTDelaware: not recognizedDEDistrict of Columbia: not recognizedDCFlorida: recognized — and permitless carry appliesFLGeorgia: recognized — and permitless carry appliesGAHawaii: not recognizedHIIdaho: recognized — and permitless carry appliesIDIllinois: not recognizedILIndiana: recognized — and permitless carry appliesINIowa: recognized — and permitless carry appliesIAKansas: recognized — and permitless carry appliesKSKentucky: recognized — and permitless carry appliesKYLouisiana: recognized — and permitless carry appliesLAMaine: recognized — and permitless carry appliesMEMaryland: not recognizedMDMassachusetts: not recognizedMAMichigan: recognized — carry with your permitMIMinnesota: recognized — carry with your permitMNMississippi (home state)MSMissouri: recognized — and permitless carry appliesMOMontana: recognized — and permitless carry appliesMTNebraska: permit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesNENevada: recognized — carry with your permitNVNew Hampshire: recognized — and permitless carry appliesNHNew Jersey: not recognizedNJNew Mexico: recognized — carry with your permitNMNew York: not recognizedNYNorth Carolina: recognized — carry with your permitNCNorth Dakota: recognized — and permitless carry appliesNDOhio: recognized — and permitless carry appliesOHOklahoma: recognized — and permitless carry appliesOKOregon: not recognizedORPennsylvania: recognized — carry with your permitPARhode Island: not recognizedRISouth Carolina: permit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesSCSouth Dakota: recognized — and permitless carry appliesSDTennessee: recognized — and permitless carry appliesTNTexas: recognized — and permitless carry appliesTXUtah: recognized — and permitless carry appliesUTVermont: recognized — and permitless carry appliesVTVirginia: recognized — carry with your permitVAWashington: not recognizedWAWest Virginia: recognized — and permitless carry appliesWVWisconsin: recognized — carry with your permitWIWyoming: recognized — and permitless carry appliesWY
  • Permit honored
  • Honored + permitless carry
  • Permitless carry only
  • Not honored
  • Confirm case-by-case
  • Mississippi

Which states honor a Mississippi carry permit? (35)

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Where a Mississippi permit is not honored (15)

Permitless carry still applies (2): Nebraska, South Carolina

No lawful carry on this permit (13): California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington

Where a Mississippi permit is honored, state by state

Click any destination for the full rules — duty to inform, magazine limits, off-limits places, and official sources.

DestinationResident permitNon-resident permit
AlabamaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
AlaskaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
ArizonaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
ArkansasRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
CaliforniaNot recognizedNot recognized
ColoradoRecognized — carry with your permitNot recognized
ConnecticutNot recognizedNot recognized
DelawareNot recognizedNot recognized
District of ColumbiaNot recognizedNot recognized
FloridaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesPermit not recognized — but permitless carry applies
GeorgiaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
HawaiiNot recognizedNot recognized
IdahoRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
IllinoisNot recognizedNot recognized
IndianaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
IowaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
KansasRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
KentuckyRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
LouisianaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
MaineRecognized — and permitless carry appliesPermit not recognized — but permitless carry applies
MarylandNot recognizedNot recognized
MassachusettsNot recognizedNot recognized
MichiganRecognized — carry with your permitNot recognized
MinnesotaRecognized — carry with your permitRecognized — carry with your permit
MissouriRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
MontanaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
NebraskaPermit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesPermit not recognized — but permitless carry applies
NevadaRecognized — carry with your permitRecognized — carry with your permit
New HampshireRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
New JerseyNot recognizedNot recognized
New MexicoRecognized — carry with your permitRecognized — carry with your permit
New YorkNot recognizedNot recognized
North CarolinaRecognized — carry with your permitRecognized — carry with your permit
North DakotaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
OhioRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
OklahomaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
OregonNot recognizedNot recognized
PennsylvaniaRecognized — carry with your permitNot recognized
Rhode IslandNot recognizedNot recognized
South CarolinaPermit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesPermit not recognized — but permitless carry applies
South DakotaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
TennesseeRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
TexasRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
UtahRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
VermontRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
VirginiaRecognized — carry with your permitRecognized — carry with your permit
WashingtonNot recognizedNot recognized
West VirginiaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
WisconsinRecognized — carry with your permitRecognized — carry with your permit
WyomingRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies

* a load-bearing fact could not be fully verified — confirm with the official source before carrying.

Whose permits Mississippi honors

Mississippi recognizes valid concealed-carry permits from every US state and DC.

Miss. Code 45-9-101(19): 'Any person holding a valid unrevoked and unexpired license to carry stun guns, concealed pistols or revolvers issued in another state shall have such license recognized by this state' — no residency condition, so non-resident permits from any state are also recognized.

Mississippi at a glance

Permit
Mississippi Individual Firearm Permit (License to Carry a Concealed Pistol or Revolver) · Enhanced Carry endorsement (Miss. Code 97-37-7(2))
Issued by
Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Firearm Permit Division
Issue policy
Shall-issue
Resident minimum age
21
Non-resident permits
Issued
Permitless carry
Yes (18+)
Duty to inform
No
Magazine limit
None

Can you carry in Mississippi without a permit?

Mississippi allows permitless concealed carry from age 18 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.

Miss. Code 45-9-101(24): no license is required for a loaded or unloaded pistol carried in a sheath, belt holster, shoulder holster, purse, satchel, briefcase or fully enclosed case, for any person not engaged in criminal activity and not otherwise prohibited, outside the 45-9-101(13) locations. The subsection sets no explicit age; 18 is the practical floor because handgun possession by minors under 18 is separately restricted (Miss. Code 97-37-14) and the related 97-37-1(2) exemption applies to persons over 18.

Is Mississippi an open carry state?

Yes. Mississippi allows open carry of a handgun without a permit for people who may legally possess one.

Anyone who may legally have a handgun can carry it openly without a permit; a pistol in a belt, shoulder or other holster that is even partly visible is not considered concealed. Certain places stay off-limits unless you hold an enhanced carry permit.

How to get a Mississippi concealed carry permit

Apply to
Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Firearm Permit Division — first-time applications are submitted in person at an authorized station.
Minimum age
21
Fee
$80 license fee plus $32 background-check fee ($112 total, new)
Training
None required for the standard permit; the optional Enhanced Carry endorsement requires an 8-hour course.
Valid for
5 years
Issue policy
Shall-issue (must be granted if you qualify)

Permits generally go to Mississippi residents only, though the residency rule can be waived for holders of another state's permit, military stationed in Mississippi, and retired officers.

Does Mississippi issue non-resident permits?

Yes. Mississippi issues carry permits to non-residents, and a Mississippi non-resident permit is honored in 30 other states. Residents only by default, but the residency requirement is waived if the applicant holds a valid permit from another state, is active-duty military stationed in Mississippi, or is a retired law enforcement officer establishing residency (Miss. Code 45-9-101(2)(a)). 18-20-year-olds qualify only as members/veterans of the Armed Forces with a Mississippi ID (45-9-101(2)(b)).

Compare every state's non-resident permit →

Do you have to tell police you are carrying in Mississippi?

No proactive duty: a licensee must display the license and identification upon demand by a law enforcement officer; failure is a $25 noncriminal violation (Miss. Code 45-9-101(1)(b)).

Carrying in a vehicle in Mississippi

Loaded vehicle carry is generally lawful without a permit for adults who may lawfully possess a handgun, under the permitless-carry provisions (Miss. Code 45-9-101(24), 97-37-1).

Where you can't carry in Mississippi

Editor's verification notes

Enhanced Carry (instructional-course endorsement, 97-37-7(2)) permits carry in many 45-9-101(13) locations, e.g. courthouses outside courtrooms — the basis for other states (e.g. Minnesota) honoring only Mississippi 'enhanced' permits. Statutory text verified from the DPS-posted/legislature 2016 HB786 enrolled version, which the DPS codes page presents as current; subsection numbering for recognition (19), locations (13) and permitless carry (24) reflects that text. Mississippi has no published honored-state list because 45-9-101(19) recognizes all states' licenses.

Frequently asked questions

Which states honor a Mississippi carry permit?
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. The table on this page links to the detailed rules for each destination.
Does Mississippi recognize out-of-state carry permits?
Miss. Code 45-9-101(19): 'Any person holding a valid unrevoked and unexpired license to carry stun guns, concealed pistols or revolvers issued in another state shall have such license recognized by this state' — no residency condition, so non-resident permits from any state are also recognized.

Official sources