Mississippi Firearm Laws: Other Topics

The Headline

This section collects Mississippi firearm rules that do not fit cleanly into the other sections of this guide: church and place-of-worship safety programs (Section 45-9-171), the School Safety Guardian Program (Section 45-9-181), exemptions for sworn law-enforcement officers and certain professionals, antique and curio categories under federal law, civil immunity for justified use of force (Section 97-3-15(5) and Section 11-46-11), and federal overlays that touch every Mississippi carrier. If a question does not belong in OVERVIEW, PERMIT_BASICS, CONSTITUTIONAL_CARRY, CONCEALED_CARRY, OPEN_CARRY, TRAINING_REQUIREMENTS, APPLICATION_PROCESS, FEES_COSTS, RENEWAL_PROCESS, PROHIBITED_PLACES, VEHICLE_CARRY, TRANSPORT, STORAGE, USE_OF_FORCE, CASTLE_DOCTRINE, DUTY_TO_INFORM, UNDER_INFLUENCE, RESTRICTIONS, NFA_ITEMS, RED_FLAG, PREEMPTION, RECIPROCITY, RESOURCES, or FAQ, the short answer is likely here.

Church and place-of-worship security programs (Section 45-9-171)

Miss. Code Ann. Section 45-9-171 authorizes a designated "church safety program" that allows members of the program to carry firearms in the church or place of worship while on duty as program members. The Section 45-9-101(13) prohibited-places list expressly carves out churches and places of worship from the general bar "except as provided in Section 45-9-171."

Operational requirements for a Section 45-9-171 program typically include:

• Written designation by the church or place of worship.
• Training requirements for program members.
• Identification of program members during program activities.
• Compliance with any DPS rulemaking under Section 45-9-171.

Section 97-37-9(j) provides a parallel statutory defense to a Section 97-37-1 charge for a person "at the time he or she was a member of a church or place of worship security program, and was then actually engaged in the performance of his or her duties as such and met the requirements of Section 45-9-171."

The Section 97-3-15(1)(i) justifiable-homicide clause likewise recognizes a member of a church or place of worship security program acting in the performance of those duties.

School Safety Guardian Program (Section 45-9-181)

Miss. Code Ann. Section 45-9-181 authorizes a "School Safety Guardian Program" designed to allow trained personnel to carry firearms on school grounds for school-safety purposes. Section 97-37-9(k) provides the parallel defense to Section 97-37-1 charges, and Section 97-3-15(1)(j) recognizes justifiable use of deadly force in performance of those duties.

The School Safety Guardian Program is administered under DPS rulemaking with input from the Mississippi Department of Education. Specific eligibility, training, and reporting requirements are set by program regulation.

Outside of the Section 45-9-181 program, K-12 school grounds remain off-limits to private firearm carry under Sections 97-37-14, 97-37-17, and 97-37-19, and Section 45-9-101(13) bars carry into K-12 school facilities even with a basic LTC.

Law enforcement officer exemptions (Section 45-6-3, Section 45-9-101(14))

Miss. Code Ann. Section 45-6-3 defines "law enforcement officer" for purposes of various firearm statutes. Section 45-9-101(14) exempts law-enforcement officers as defined in Section 45-6-3, chiefs of police, sheriffs, and persons licensed as professional bondsmen under Chapter 39 of Title 83 from the LTC licensing requirements.

A law-enforcement officer's authority to carry firearms in Mississippi derives from the officer's official position, not from a Section 45-9-101 LTC. Officers may, however, voluntarily obtain a Section 45-9-101 LTC for personal carry purposes outside official duties.

Section 97-37-7(2) further authorizes specific professional categories - including Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks law-enforcement officers, railroad special agents who are sworn law-enforcement officers, investigators employed by the Attorney General, criminal investigators employed by district attorneys, all prosecutors, public defenders, certain Department of Corrections personnel, deputy fire marshals, judges of various courts, coroners, and others - to carry firearms in performance of their duties without separate LTC authorization.

Honorably retired law enforcement officers (Section 45-9-101(22))

Section 45-9-101(22) directs DPS, from January 1, 2016 onward, to issue LTCs to honorably retired law-enforcement officers and honorably retired correctional officers from the Mississippi Department of Corrections with:

• The words "retired law enforcement officer" on the front of the license.
• A red background to distinguish the LTC from other LTCs (unless the holder elects the driver's-license-notation option under Section 45-9-101(25)).

Honorably retired LE officers are also exempt from the Section 97-37-7(1)(d)(i) Enhanced overlay renewal fee.

The federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act, 18 U.S.C. Section 926C, provides an independent federal authority for qualified retired LE officers to carry concealed in any U.S. state.

Disabled veterans (Section 45-9-101(23))

Section 45-9-101(23) provides for fee reduction or exemption for disabled veterans seeking an LTC. A disabled veteran provides a Veterans Health Services identification card from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs indicating a service-connected disability; the card is sufficient proof.

Civil immunity and tort claims notice (Section 97-3-15(5) and Section 11-46-11)

Miss. Code Ann. Section 97-3-15(5) provides:

• (5)(a) The Section 97-3-15(3) presumption (Castle Doctrine) applies in civil cases where self-defense or defense of another is claimed as a defense.
• (5)(b) The court "shall award reasonable attorney's fees, court costs, compensation for loss of income, and all expenses incurred by the defendant in defense of any civil action brought by a plaintiff if the court finds that the defendant acted in accordance with subsection (1)(e) or (f)." A defendant previously adjudicated "not guilty" of any crime by reason of subsection (1)(e) or (f) is immune from civil action arising from the same conduct.

Miss. Code Ann. Section 11-46-11 governs tort claims against governmental defendants. The 90-day pre-suit notice requirement in Section 11-46-11 applies where a civil claim is brought against a public officer or governmental entity. A justified-defense defendant sued by a governmental plaintiff (rare) would plead both Section 97-3-15(5) and any applicable Section 11-46-11 defense.

Federal overlay - 18 U.S.C. Section 922 and related

The federal framework that overlays every Mississippi carrier:

• 18 U.S.C. Section 922(g) - federal prohibitor list (felons, fugitives, drug users, mentally adjudicated/committed, illegal aliens, dishonorably discharged, renounced citizens, qualifying restraining-order subjects, MCDV convicts).
• 18 U.S.C. Section 922(d) - prohibits transferring a firearm to a known prohibited person.
• 18 U.S.C. Section 922(t) - mandates NICS check at every FFL-mediated firearm transfer.
• 18 U.S.C. Section 922(x) - bars handgun transfer to a person under 18, with hunting/training/employment/ranch carve-outs.
• 18 U.S.C. Section 922(q) - Gun-Free School Zones Act; 1,000-foot buffer; state-licensee exception.
• 18 U.S.C. Section 922(o) - bars civilian possession of post-1986 machine guns.
• 18 U.S.C. Section 926A - interstate transport floor.
• 18 U.S.C. Section 926B - LEOSA, active-officer concealed-carry authority.
• 18 U.S.C. Section 926C - LEOSA, retired-officer concealed-carry authority.

Federal overlay - 26 U.S.C. NFA

• 26 U.S.C. Section 5841 - NFA registration requirement for suppressors, SBRs, SBSs, machine guns, AOWs, destructive devices.
• 26 U.S.C. Section 5845 - definitions for NFA items.

Federal overlay - 27 C.F.R. Part 478

The implementing regulations for federal firearms law are at 27 C.F.R. Part 478. Practical reach:

• ATF Form 4473 (firearms transaction record) requirements.
• FFL recordkeeping.
• NICS denial appeal procedures.
• NFA transfer paperwork (Form 4 for individuals/trusts, Form 5 for tax-free transfer to lawful heir).

Ammunition

Mississippi imposes no permit, registration, or background-check requirement on the purchase of ammunition. Federal 18 U.S.C. Section 922(d) prohibits the sale of ammunition to a prohibited person.

There is no Mississippi magazine-capacity restriction. Standard-capacity and extended magazines are lawful to possess, sell, and transfer.

Antique and curio firearms

Federal 18 U.S.C. Section 921(a)(16) defines "antique firearm" to include any firearm manufactured in or before 1898 (and certain replica muzzleloaders). Antique firearms are not "firearms" for purposes of most federal regulation (NICS, NFA, prohibited-person possession, etc.). They do remain "firearms" for state Section 97-37-1 purposes.

The federal Curio and Relic (C&R) license under 27 C.F.R. Part 478 facilitates collecting of older firearms with reduced FFL formality.

Domestic violence prohibitors

Federal 18 U.S.C. Section 922(g)(8) and Section 922(g)(9) bar firearm possession by persons subject to a qualifying restraining order or convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. Mississippi has no separate state-law disqualifier for these categories; the federal framework controls.

The U.S. Supreme Court in United States v. Rahimi (2024) upheld 922(g)(8) against a Second Amendment challenge.

Hunting regulations

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks publishes hunting regulations governing seasons, methods, and license requirements. Section 97-37-1(3) "legitimate weapon-related sports activity" carve-out covers hunting and transport to and from the hunt. MDWFP regulations on suppressor use, hunting in wildlife management areas, and species-specific rules apply.

Federal lands within Mississippi

Mississippi has several federal land categories:

• National Forests (Bienville, Delta, De Soto, Holly Springs, Homochitto, Tombigbee): firearm possession follows state law (USDA Forest Service regulations defer to state firearm law).
• National Wildlife Refuges (Mississippi Sandhill Crane, Noxubee, Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee, Yazoo, etc.): firearm possession follows federal regulations (50 C.F.R. Part 27 generally allows possession consistent with state law).
• National Park Service units (Vicksburg National Military Park, Natchez Trace Parkway, Gulf Islands National Seashore): the 2010 federal amendment in P.L. 111-24 allows possession consistent with state law, but designated federal facilities within NPS units may remain off-limits (e.g., visitor centers per 36 C.F.R. Section 2.4 read with federal-building rules).
• Military installations (Keesler AFB, Camp Shelby, Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, etc.): subject to installation-specific firearm rules; possession typically requires registration with the installation commander.

Federal buildings and the Section 45-9-101(13) catch-all

Section 45-9-101(13) ends with "any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law." This catch-all pulls in:

• 18 U.S.C. Section 930 - federal buildings.
• 39 C.F.R. Section 232.1(l) - post offices and post office parking lots (read with 18 U.S.C. Section 930).
• 38 C.F.R. Section 1.218 - VA medical facilities.
• 49 C.F.R. Part 1540 - TSA sterile areas at airports.

Aircraft and air travel

Carriage of firearms on commercial aircraft is governed by TSA regulations at 49 C.F.R. Part 1540 and air-carrier rules. Firearms must be unloaded, in a locked hard-sided case, declared at check-in, and checked as baggage. Ammunition is subject to its own packaging and declaration rules. Section 45-9-101(13) airport-terminal carry prohibition is consistent with the federal framework; encased firearms checked as baggage are an explicit exception.

Bottom line

Mississippi's overall framework is permissive at the state level and heavily overlaid by federal law. Most "other topics" cases reduce to a Mississippi statutory provision (typically Section 45-9-101, Section 97-37-1, Section 97-37-7, Section 97-37-9, or Section 97-3-15) combined with a federal overlay (typically 18 U.S.C. Section 922 or the NFA at 26 U.S.C. Section 5841). The Section 45-9-171 church safety program, Section 45-9-181 School Safety Guardian Program, Section 45-9-101(14) law-enforcement exemption, and federal LEOSA framework cover special-purpose categories.

When in doubt, the operative analysis is:

1. Is there a Mississippi statute on point?
2. If yes, does the basic LTC, Enhanced overlay, or constitutional carry change the analysis?
3. Is there a federal overlay (18 U.S.C. Section 922, NFA, TSA, federal-building rule)?
4. Is the property private, and if so, is the property posted under Section 45-9-101(13)?

That sequence resolves most questions.