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Mississippi's firearm restrictions are concentrated in two places:
Person-based restrictions. Felons, persons subject to certain mental-health adjudications, persons subject to disqualifying alcohol or controlled-substance history, fugitives, and federally prohibited persons are barred under Miss. Code Ann. Section 45-9-101(2) (LTC eligibility), Section 97-37-31 (felon in possession), Section 97-37-37 (aggravated felon-in-possession), and 18 U.S.C. Section 922(g) (federal prohibitors).
Weapon-based restrictions. Sawed-off rifles (less than 16-inch barrel) and shotguns (less than 18-inch barrel), machine guns, fully automatic firearms, and the items enumerated in Section 97-37-1(1) (bowie knives, dirk knives, butcher knives, switchblade knives, metallic knuckles, blackjacks) are reached by the criminal carry statute. NFA-regulated items (suppressors, short-barreled rifles and shotguns, machine guns, AOWs, destructive devices) are governed by federal law in 26 U.S.C. Section 5841 and related sections.
Mississippi has not enacted an assault-weapon ban, a magazine-capacity restriction, a state universal-background-check law, or a state red flag law.
Person-based restrictions
Miss. Code Ann. Section 97-37-31 - felon in possession (state)
Section 97-37-31 makes it a felony for a person convicted of a felony under Mississippi law, federal law, or the law of any other state to possess a firearm. The statute reaches handguns, long guns, and the items in Section 97-37-1(1). The state penalty is consecutive to the original felony sentence in certain circumstances.
The state statute is in addition to the federal felon-in-possession prohibition in 18 U.S.C. Section 922(g)(1). A Mississippi felon in possession may face both state and federal charges.
Miss. Code Ann. Section 97-37-37 - aggravated felon-in-possession
Section 97-37-37 provides enhanced penalties for certain firearm-related conduct, including possession of a firearm by a person previously convicted of a felony in circumstances where the firearm was used in furtherance of another felony, or where the prior felony was a violent offense.
Miss. Code Ann. Section 45-9-101(2) - LTC ineligibility
Section 45-9-101(2) lists the eligibility criteria for a Mississippi LTC. A person who does not meet the criteria is barred from holding an LTC; the same characteristics generally bar the person from federal possession under 18 U.S.C. Section 922(g):
Felony conviction without pardon or expungement (Section 45-9-101(2)(d)).
Withheld adjudication or suspended sentence on a felony, without three years' completion (Section 45-9-101(2)(j)).
Committed to a mental institution without a five-year psychiatrist certification (Section 45-9-101(2)(i)).
Chronic or habitual controlled-substance abuse (Section 45-9-101(2)(e)).
Chronic or habitual alcohol abuse (Section 45-9-101(2)(f)).
Fugitive from justice (Section 45-9-101(2)(k)).
Federally prohibited (Section 45-9-101(2)(l)).
18 U.S.C. Section 922(g) - federal prohibitors
Federal law bars firearm possession by:
(1) Persons convicted of a felony, or a state misdemeanor punishable by more than two years.
(2) Fugitives from justice.
(3) Unlawful users of controlled substances or addicts (including, under federal law, marijuana users - including state-law medical marijuana patients; Mississippi's medical-cannabis carve-out in Section 45-9-101(24) addresses only the state-law disqualifier).
(4) Persons adjudicated mentally defective or committed to a mental institution.
(5) Illegal aliens.
(6) Persons dishonorably discharged from the armed forces.
(7) Persons who have renounced U.S. citizenship.
(8) Persons subject to a qualifying domestic-violence restraining order.
(9) Persons convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
Federal Section 922(g) prohibitors apply regardless of state law. A Mississippi LTC does not exempt the holder from federal law.
Juveniles under federal 18 U.S.C. Section 922(x)
Federal law bars the possession of a handgun, or handgun ammunition, by a person under 18, with exceptions for:
Temporary transfer to the juvenile by a parent or guardian with permission for ranching or farming purposes, target shooting, hunting, training, or use during a course of instruction.
Temporary possession by the juvenile during such activities with prior written consent of the parent or guardian.
A member of the National Guard or armed forces.
A juvenile possessing a handgun in defense of the juvenile or other persons against an intruder into the juvenile's residence.
Mississippi has no separate state-law handgun-age statute for ordinary possession. The federal floor is the binding rule.
Domestic violence prohibitors
Mississippi has no separate state-law disqualifier specifically tied to misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence or to civil protection orders. The federal prohibitors at 18 U.S.C. Section 922(g)(8) (qualifying restraining orders) and 18 U.S.C. Section 922(g)(9) (MCDV) apply directly. A Mississippi resident subject to a qualifying protection order or convicted of an MCDV is federally barred from firearm possession regardless of Mississippi state law.
The U.S. Supreme Court in United States v. Rahimi (2024) upheld 18 U.S.C. Section 922(g)(8) against a Second Amendment challenge.
Weapon-based restrictions
Section 97-37-1(1) - listed weapons
The criminal baseline at Section 97-37-1(1) reaches the concealed carry of:
Bowie knives.
Dirk knives.
Butcher knives.
Switchblade knives.
Metallic knuckles (brass knuckles).
Blackjacks.
Pistols, revolvers.
Rifles with a barrel less than 16 inches.
Shotguns with a barrel less than 18 inches.
Machine guns.
Fully automatic firearms.
Any other deadly weapon.
Plus, Section 97-37-1(1) reaches the use or attempted use against another person of any imitation firearm.
A Mississippi LTC under Section 45-9-101 authorizes the holder to carry a "stun gun, concealed pistol or revolver" only. The LTC does NOT exempt the holder from Section 97-37-1(1) liability for carrying concealed knives, knuckles, or short-barreled long guns on the listed list.
NFA-regulated items
Suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, machine guns, AOWs (Any Other Weapon), and destructive devices are governed by 26 U.S.C. Section 5841 (registration requirement) and 26 U.S.C. Section 5845 (definitions), with regulations at 27 C.F.R. Part 478. Mississippi imposes no additional state-level restrictions on NFA-registered items. A Mississippi resident may possess and use any NFA item that is properly registered and tax-paid at the federal level.
Felon and prohibited-person possession of any firearm
Section 97-37-31 reaches "any firearm" - handgun, long gun, NFA item, etc. The state statute follows the federal Section 922(g) approach in barring any firearm.
What Mississippi has NOT enacted
Mississippi has chosen not to enact:
Assault-weapon ban. Mississippi has no list of prohibited "assault weapons." AR-platform rifles, AK-platform rifles, and other semi-automatic firearms are not restricted by state law.
Magazine-capacity restriction. Mississippi has no magazine-capacity limit. Standard- and extended-capacity magazines are lawful to possess and transfer.
State universal-background-check law. Mississippi does not require background checks on private transfers between residents. The federal NICS requirement for FFL-mediated transfers under 18 U.S.C. Section 922(t) still applies.
State red flag / Extreme Risk Protection Order law. Mississippi has not adopted an ERPO statute. The federal prohibitors in 18 U.S.C. Section 922(g)(8) (restraining order) and 18 U.S.C. Section 922(g)(9) (MCDV) provide the only federal-side temporary disarmament mechanism.
Waiting period. Mississippi has no waiting period between firearm purchase and delivery.
State permit-to-purchase requirement. Mississippi does not require a state permit to purchase a firearm. Federal NICS and the FFL transfer record (Form 4473) are the only required prerequisites.
Common restriction questions
Can a Mississippi resident own an AR-15? Yes, subject to federal law (background check at FFL; federal Section 922(g) disqualifiers).
Can a Mississippi resident own a 30-round magazine? Yes. No state magazine-capacity limit.
Can a Mississippi resident sell a firearm to a neighbor without an FFL? Yes, under state law, subject to the federal prohibitions in 18 U.S.C. Section 922(d) on transferring to known prohibited persons.
Can a Mississippi resident own a suppressor? Yes, after federal NFA registration and tax payment.
Can a person subject to a domestic-violence restraining order possess a firearm in Mississippi? No - federal Section 922(g)(8) bars it. Mississippi has no separate state-law procedure for retrieving the firearm, so practical disarmament typically happens via federal investigation or voluntary surrender.
Can a person convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence possess a firearm in Mississippi? No - federal Section 922(g)(9) bars it.
Where to look up your status
Mississippi state criminal-history check: through DPS or the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.
Federal NICS background check: occurs through the FFL at each firearm purchase.
LTC eligibility self-assessment: run through the Section 45-9-101(2) checklist before applying.
Federal prohibitor self-assessment: run through the 18 U.S.C. Section 922(g) checklist before purchasing or possessing.
The conservative practice: if any aspect of personal history might trigger a federal prohibitor or a Section 45-9-101(2) disqualifier, consult a Mississippi-licensed attorney before purchasing or carrying.