As far as "Carry Rules", here's a brief summary.
Full info available at
MS DPS FIREARMS PERMIT UNIT
In Mississippi, you have 4 basic ways to carry.
1. Open Carry
2. Concealed Carry without a Permit
3. Concealed Carry Permit
4. Enhanced Concealed Carry Permit (IC = Instructor Certified)
Open: According to the state constitution and a 2013 law clarifying the issue, Mississippians over the age of 18 (federal law requires people be 21 for purchase) can carry a firearm in a holster, sheath or scabbard that is at least partially visible above clothing anywhere where guns are not otherwise prohibited. The attorney general has opined that some restrictions that apply to concealed carry (see below) also apply to open carry — such as carrying on school property — while others say the state constitution prohibits the Legislature or local governments from restricting open carry. Private property owners can prohibit open carry as described below for concealed carry.
Concealed without permit: A law effective April 15 allows Mississippians, without a permit, to carry concealed firearms — “hidden or obscured from common observation” — as long as they are in a holster or sheath. A previous law allows such permit-less concealed carry in a purse, satchel, briefcase or bag. However, one cannot carry a gun without a permit into:
- A police, sheriff’s or highway patrol station.
- A school — elementary, secondary, community college or university — except for an authorized firearm-related activity.
- A detention facility, prison or jail.
- A courthouse or courtroom.
- A polling place for elections.
- A meeting place of a governing body, including the Legislature and legislative committee meetings.
- A school, college or professional athletic event not related to firearms.
- Bars, or the bar areas of restaurants or any area of an establishment primarily devoted to dispensing alcoholic beverages..
- An airport terminal, except properly baggage guns to be checked for lawful transporting on an aircraft.
- A church or place of worship — except as provided in a new law for a church’s authorized armed security team.
- Any place where carrying a firearm is prohibited by federal law (such as a federal courthouse or post office).
- A private business or property that properly posts (see details below) notice that firearms are banned.
- Any area that has been declared a “place of nuisance” because of illegal activity.
Concealed carry with standard permit: Someone with a standard state concealed carry permit — who undergoes a background check and fingerprinting — is still prohibited from carrying in the areas listed above for permit-less carry, such as courtrooms, polling places, bars and schools. So why get this permit? More than 30 other states allow some form of “reciprocity” concealed carry for Mississippians with a permit and those with a permit are exempt from having another background check when they purchase a gun.
Concealed carry with “enhanced” permit: Those who undergo eight hours of certified training can receive an endorsement on their concealed carry permit that allows them to carry in most places otherwise restricted. But an enhanced permit holder still cannot carry in:
- An area declared a place of nuisance.
- A police, sheriff or Highway Patrol station.
- A detention facility, prison or jail.
- Any place where carrying a firearm is prohibited by federal law (such as a federal courthouse or post office).
- A private business or property that properly posts (see below) notice that firearms are banned. An enhanced permit holder could face trespassing charges, but not a violation of concealed carry law.
- A courtroom while court is in session.
- While one section of state law says an enhanced permit holder can carry on school, community college or university property, another says it’s illegal. An AG’s opinion from 2012 says campus carry is allowed for enhanced permit holders.
- State law says someone not attending or working for a school can possess a firearm in their vehicle, but federal law would require a state-issued permit for it. Mississippi's IHL recently adopted a policy expressly permitting enhanced permit holders to carry on campus, subject to some exceptions still being worked out.
