Missouri Concealed Carry Firearm Laws

Missouri: Gun Laws Summary

Missouri is a permitless carry state as well as a shall-issue state. Permits are issued for reciprocity purposes, at the local level by county sheriffs.

There is no permit, background check or firearms registration required when buying a handgun from a private individual.

Open carry and concealed carry are legal in Missouri without a Concealed Carry Permit (CCP) for anyone 19 years or older who can legally possess a firearm (18 for members of the military or honorably discharged). Local authorities can restrict concealed carry in any building owned, leased or controlled by the county or municipality and may require a CCP for open carry. Missouri law does not plainly state you don’t need a permit to carry. They changed the definition of “unlawful use of a weapon” to only apply when a person carries a weapon into a place that is off-limits per Missouri law. [1]

To obtain a Missouri CCP, you must be at least 19 years old (18 for members of the military or honorably discharged) and have passed a firearms training course. The application must be made in your county of residence. Non-resident permits are only available to persons who are on active military duty or veterans who are at least 18 years old and stationed in Missouri. There are a number of restricted locations including courthouses and public passenger buses and trains. Since permitless carry is legal in Missouri, anyone 19 years or older who can legally possess a firearm may carry a concealed firearm on his or her person without a license or permit. [2]

Self-Defense

Missouri is a Castle Doctrine state and became the 25th state to adopt a “stand your ground” law. It empowers gun owners to defend themselves outside of their homes or properties. Individuals are not required to retreat, wherever they may lawfully be, prior to using deadly force. This assumes the person was not the initial aggressor and is not attempting to commit a crime. [3]

Physical force is justifiable:

When an individual believes that the physical force used is necessary for the defense of themselves (or others) from an attack of unlawful force from another person.
When an individual believes that the force is reasonably necessary to prevent another person from stealing, damaging or tampering with property.

Deadly force is justifiable:

When an individual reasonably believes that the force is necessary for self-defense or defense of others (including unborn children) to prevent death, serious physical injury or a forcible felony.
When an individual uses such force against a person who unlawfully enters a dwelling, residence or vehicle.
When an individual uses such force against a person who unlawfully enters, attempts to enter or remains after unlawfully entering private property where the owner of authorized individual claims justification for using protective force under this law.

In 2016, the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Eastern District held in State v. Whipple that deadly force under the castle doctrine can only be used when you reasonably believe such force is necessary to protect yourself or someone else from “the use or imminent use of unlawful force” and not solely to protect property. Missouri law also prohibits political subdivisions to preclude the use of firearms to defend people or property. [4]

Missouri: Gun Laws at a Glance


Minimum Age for Concealed Carry Permit	You must be at least 19 years old to carry a concealed handgun in Missouri. [§ 571.030.1.1, RSMo]
Concealed Carry for Weapons Other Than Handguns	No. Missouri law does not allow the concealed carry of weapons other than handguns.
Legality of Tasers or Stun Guns	Yes. Stun guns and Tasers are legal to purchase and possess without a permit.
Legality of Chemical Spray/Pepper Spray	Yes. There is no statute prohibiting the purchase or use of pepper spray in Missouri.
Permitless Carry	Yes. Missouri is a permitless carry state. A person without a permit only commits the offense of unlawful use of weapons, if he or she knowingly carries a concealed weapon into any area where firearms are restricted per state or Federal law. [§ 571.030(1)(1), RSMo]
Magazine Capacity Restrictions for Handguns	No. Missouri does not restrict handgun magazine capacity.
Ammunition Restrictions	Yes. The possession and sale of “exploding bullets” (bullets or projectiles that explode or detonate on impact due to an independent explosive charge after being shot from a firearm) is prohibited. The minimum age to purchase or possess handgun ammunition is 18 years old. [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 571.020.1(4)]
Issuance of Concealed Carry Permits	Missouri issues permits on a shall-issue basis.
Open Carry	Yes, without a permit for anyone 19 years or older who can legally possess a firearm. Local authorities can regulate open carry for those who do not have a concealed carry permit. [§ 21.750, RSMo]

Missouri: Carry Locations


Carrying a concealed firearm at roadside rest areas	Yes. You may carry a concealed weapon at roadside rest areas. [source]
Storing firearms in private vehicles in an employee parking lot	Not addressed in Missouri state law, although employers may have a policy. [source]
Carrying a concealed handgun in a vehicle	Yes, without a permit and on restricted premises, so long as the firearm is not removed from the vehicle or brandished while the vehicle is on restricted premises. Restricted premises are locations where concealed carry is not allowed in the state of Missouri. [§ 571.030, RSMo][§ 571.107.1, RSMo]
Carrying a concealed firearm in bars and restaurants that serve alcohol	You may conceal carry in the restaurant area only without the consent of the manager, but not if posted and provided you are not intoxicated. The manager’s consent is required for carry in the bar area. [§ 571.107.1(7), RSMo]
Carrying or possessing a firearm on hotel property	Any private business may prohibit a permitholder from carrying a concealed handgun on the premises provided the owner has posted the premises as being off-limits to concealed firearms by means of one or more signs displayed in a conspicuous place of a minimum size of eleven inches by fourteen inches with the writing thereon in letters of not less than one inch. The individual hotel should be contacted to inquire about its concealed carry policy. See the Handguns at Hotels page for additional information. [§ 571.107.1, RSMo]
Carrying a concealed firearm in state/national parks, state/national forests and Wildlife Management Areas	Yes. Missouri allows the carrying of concealed handguns in state/national parks, state/national forests and wildlife management areas. See the National Parks webpage for links to each Park in Missouri. [10 CSR 90-2.020][3 CSR 10-7.432(1)]

Missouri: Key State Laws


Do you have a duty to notify a police officer that you’re carrying a concealed firearm in Missouri?	No. There is no duty to inform a law enforcement officer that you’re carrying a concealed firearm in Missouri unless the officer asks. [§ 571.121, RSMo]
Is my Missouri driver’s license linked to my Missouri carry permit?	Yes. Missouri has a statewide database that will display CCP on either a DL or a non-DL ID.
Does Missouri issue concealed carry permits to non-residents?	Yes. Non-resident permits are only available to persons who are on active duty military or veterans who are at least 18 years old and stationed in Missouri. The spouses of active military personnel can also apply for a permit if they are at least 19 years old and reside in the state.
Does Missouri allow the public to access concealed carry registry information through public records law?	No. The Missouri concealed carry registry is not accessible by the public.
Does Missouri have a red flag law?	No. Missouri does not have a red flag law.
Does Missouri state law define brandishing?	No definition of brandishing was found in Missouri law. A person commits the offense of unlawful use of weapons if he or she knowingly exhibits, in the presence of two or more people, any weapon capable of lethal use in an angry or threatening manner. [§ 571.030(4) RSMo]
Does Missouri have laws regarding carrying a concealed firearm while consuming alcohol?	Not while intoxicated. [§ 571.107.1(7), RSMo] As a responsibly armed American, regardless of the laws in your state, it is unwise to carry while under the influence of any substance that could impair your judgement, slow your reaction times, or impact your decision-making abilities. Any decision you make while carrying a firearm could have life-altering consequences.
If yes, violating the sign would be considered to be a crime. If no, violating the sign would not be considered a criminal offense.	No, unless an individual refuses to leave or repeatedly enters the premises while carrying a concealed weapon. [§ 571.107.1(15), RSMo][§ 571.107.2, RSMo]
Does Missouri have preemption laws related to concealed carry (i.e. Does state law supersede local laws regarding the possession of handguns)?	Yes, the state has preemption of firearms laws in Missouri. Counties and municipalities may prohibit the carrying of concealed firearms, even by persons permitted to do so under state law, in any building or portion of a building owned, leased or controlled by the county or municipality. They may also require a concealed carry permit for open carry and regulate the discharge of firearms. [§ 571.107.1(6) RSMo][§ 21.750, RSMo]

Missouri: Handgun Purchase and Possession


Handgun Registration	Missouri does not require you to register handguns. [§ 571.060 RSMo]
Minimum Age for Possessing and Transporting a Handgun	The minimum age to possess and transport a handgun in Missouri is 18 years old. [§ 571.080 RSMo]
Permitless Carry in Home	Yes. Permitless carry is allowed for anyone legally entitled to carry a firearm in Missouri. Carrying a handgun is permitted, without a license, in or on premises over which the actor has possession, authority or control. [§ 571.030.3 RSMo]
Permit for Purchasing a Handgun	No. There is no permit required to purchase a handgun in Missouri.
Background Checks for Private Gun Sales	No. Private firearms transfers are not subject to a background check requirement, although federal and state purchaser prohibitions, including age restrictions, still apply. It is recommended that you retain any sales receipts to prove ownership of the gun.
Concealed Carry Permit and Background Checks	No.
Handgun Waiting Period	No. There is no waiting period when buying a handgun in Missouri.