Missouri Sheriff Website 1
Missouri Sheriff Website 2
Online Application for CCW
Laws on Using Weapons in Missouri
Missouri Firearms Safety Instructor Qualification Form
Frequently Asked Questions
Revised Statutes
Administrative Rules
Reciprocity Information
Attorney General of Missouri
Laws on Guns Discussed

The state of Missouri accepts carry permits issued by other states. Non-resident permits are accepted as well provided that they are released on the states honored by Missouri. Wisconsin only accepts Missouri licenses that are released on or after August 28, 2013.

571.030. Unlawful Use of Weapons–Exceptions–Penalties.
A person who carries a concealed firearm, knife, or any lethal weapon shall be charged with unlawful use of weapons. Such law does not apply to any person who has a valid concealed carry license from Missouri or concealed carry permit issues by a state that Missouri honors.

Consult the county sheriff on your residence. Individuals who are 19 years old and above may apply for a carry permit. Members of the U.S. Armed Forces should be at least 18 years old. Applicants are required to undergo training classes. County sheriffs will provide a list of accredited instructors on the area. The carry permit which costs $100.00 is valid up to 5 years.

Beginning August 28, 2013, sheriffs will be responsible in issuing permits among applicants. Some sheriffs provide the application forms online. The link for the application form for Boone County Missouri can be found on the “Important Links” section above.

What to Bring When Applying for a Permit
The applicants must bring the following during their application:
• Proof of training issued by an accredited instructor
• Driver’s license or Identification Card issued by the state of Missouri
• Military identification and military orders for the members of the military force
• $100 payment (non-refundable)
• $38 for the fingerprints services

There are some sheriffs who require proof of Missouri residency. Applicants may bring their voter’s registration, electricity or other utility bills and tax receipt. A permit holder who plans on moving to another county must inform both the old and new county about it.

Military members who are on active duty as well as veterans who are at least 18 years old and are stationed in Missouri for their military service may apply for non-resident members. Their spouses may apply for their own permits as long as they are 21 years or older. To know more information about the application, consult the sheriff of your county. Aside from the military members who are stationed in Missouri and their spouses who are 21 years old and above, no person is issued the non-resident permit by the state of Missouri.

571.107. Carrying of concealed firearms on the following places is not permitted:
• Police, highway patrol and sheriff office
Carrying the firearm inside a vehicle on these office’s parking lot is allowed, but the owner must not take the firearm out of the vehicle while on such premises.

• Twenty-five feet or less away from voting locations
Carrying the firearm inside a vehicle on parking lots near the voting locations is allowed, but the owner must not take the firearm out of the vehicle while on such premises.

• Correctional facilities, juvenile detention center, prison or jail
Carrying the firearm inside a vehicle on parking lots of such facilities is allowed, but the owner must not take the firearm out of the vehicle while on such premises.

• Courthouse, courtrooms and other buildings used by the court
Carrying the firearm inside a vehicle on parking lots of such buildings is allowed, but the owner must not take the firearm out of the vehicle while on such premises. Law enforcers who are on their duty are exempted from this law.

• Facilities used by the local government, general assembly and their committees
Members of the local government, general assembly or committees who are carrying concealed are exempted from this. Carrying the firearm inside a vehicle on parking lots near these facilities is allowed, but the owner must not take the firearm out of the vehicle while on such premises.

• Establishments that serve alcoholic beverages
The owner of the said establishment who is also a permit holder shall be exempted from this statute. This does not apply to restaurants that can serve fifty persons or more. Carrying the firearm inside a vehicle on parking lots of near these establishments is allowed, but the owner must not take the firearm out of the vehicle while on such premises. Carrying of firearms while under the influence of alcohol is prohibited.

• Inspection areas of airports
Carrying the firearm inside a vehicle on the airports’ parking is allowed, but the owner must not take the firearm out of the vehicle while on such premises.

• Locations where the federal law prohibit carrying of firearms

• Elementary, secondary and college schools
Carrying the firearm inside a vehicle on parking lots of near these establishments is allowed, but the owner must not take the firearm out of the vehicle while on such premises.

• Child care facilities
Owners of such facilities who are carry permit holders are exempted from this rule.

• Amusement parks
All the areas gated by the amusement parks do not allow possession of firearms. Carrying a firearm inside the vehicle is permitted, but the owner must not take the firearm out of the vehicle while on the premises.

• Churches and other places of worship
Unless the religious leader or minister permits, no one is allowed to carry a firearm inside the church or any other place used for religious worship. Keeping a firearm inside the vehicle on parking lots of churches is allowed, but the owner must not take it out while on the premises of these places.

• Private property with “No Gun” signs
The size of the posted signs must be eleven inches by fourteen inches and the letters should be readable for the visitors. Keeping a firearm inside the vehicle on a private property’s parking lot is allowed, but the owner should not take the firearm outside the vehicle.

• Sports arena or stadium
Sports facilities that can hold more than five thousand people do not allow possession of firearms. Keeping the firearms inside the vehicle is allowed.

• Hospital facilities
Keeping the firearms inside the vehicle on hospital’s premises is allowed as long as the owner does not take the firearm outside the vehicle.

Carrying of firearms on the places that are off limits is not considered a criminal offense, but the owner or any person who has the authority on a particular building or facility may deny entrance of individuals carrying firearms. Failure to leave may result to a penalty of not more than $100 fine for the first offense. Second offense issued within six months can result to suspension of the license and a fine not exceeding $200. For the third offense of the same violation that is done within one year, there will be a fine not exceeding $500, a revoke of license and ineligibility to apply for a new permit for three years.

The general assembly, municipality, county and court are allowed to establish regulations and ordinances to restrict carrying of firearms among license holders. “No Gun” signs must be posted and should be kept visible for the visitors. Violation of this rule is not a criminal offense, but individuals who are carrying firearms may be denied entrance to such premises and be asked to leave. Failure to leave may result to criminal charges.

571.030. Sec. 10. A person may be charged with unlawful use of weapons if he carries either an unloaded or loaded firearm or any other lethal weapon inside the school, school bus and facilities used by the school.

578.305. Boarding a bus while carrying a deadly weapon is considered “possession and concealment of a dangerous or deadly weapon,” which is a class C felony. Law enforcement officers and security guards who are carrying their firearms as part of their work is exempted from this rule.

571.510. Housing authorities and lessors should not prohibit the lessees and their family members from carrying and transporting their firearms to and from their residence as long as it is lawful.

Bi-State Development Agency of the Missouri-Illinois Metropolitan District

70.441.1. Under this section, the following terms are defined:
• “Agency” refers to the bi-state development agency which was created under compact between Missouri and Illinois (70.370)
• “Conveyance” refers to bus, car, train and other vehicles used by the “agency” to transport the passengers.
• “Facilities” refer to the equipment and property used for public mass transportation including terminals, signage, stations, signals, rails, fuel, repair shops, offices and parking lots.

Conveyance does not allow possession of firearms and other deadly weapons like knives, sword, club, metal knuckles, sandbag and razor blade. Rifles and shotguns that are unloaded and kept in a locked container to hide the item are allowed. Exception applies for law enforcement officers. Violation of this law may result to an arrest and a fine not exceeding $250 and not lower than $25 when proven guilty in court.

Note: New Amendments on the Carry Permit Laws of Missouri became effective on August 28, 2011. Those who are working on the Capitol and are carry permit holders are exempted from the law. As stated on the new law, “Nothing in this subdivision shall preclude a member of the general assembly, a full-time employee of the general assembly employed under section 17, article III, Constitution of Missouri, legislative employees of the general assembly as determined under section 21.155, or statewide elected officials and their employees, holding a valid concealed carry Permit, from carrying a concealed firearm in the state capitol building or at a meeting whether of the full body of a house of the general assembly or a committee thereof, that is held in the state capitol building;”

“No Gun” signs in Missouri have the force of law, but violation of it is not a criminal offense. An individual will be charged with a crime only if he is asked to leave the premises and he refused to do so.

Note: As per recommendation of the nationalcarryacademy.com, when you notice a sign on an establishment that restricts possession of firearms, you must walk away.

571.121.1. Concealed carriers must always bring with them their carry permits whenever they carry. When demanded by a law enforcement officer, they must present the carry permits. Failure to display the permit is not a criminal offense, but the permit holder may be charged with a penalty of not more than $35.

Keeping and transporting of a firearm in a motor vehicle is allowed, but it should be secured in a container and kept in a separate compartment that is not accessible to the owner. Places that are off limits do not prohibit storing of a firearm in a vehicle on an establishment’s parking lot.

Carrying of firearms on state parks and national forests is allowed in Missouri.

A carry permit holder is allowed to carry his firearm in a vehicle or on his person.

571.030. Unlawful use of a weapon does not apply if a person is transporting with his firearm unloaded or if the ammunition is not attached or not accessible. Members of the military force or those who are honorably discharged from the US Armed Forces are exempted from this law.

Carry permit holders are allowed to carry openly. Local and state authorities are not allowed to establish regulations or ordinances to prohibit open carrying as stated on the new law: “No ordinance shall be construed to preclude the use of a firearm in the defense of person or property, subject to the provisions of chapter 563.”

To know more about the laws about open carrying in Missouri, check the website at www.opencarry.org or search the keywords “Missouri Open Carry” on Google. Also check the “Relevant Court Cases and Opinions of Missouri AG” section below to know more about the legal opinions on open carrying.

Title     III      21.750. Firearms legislation preemption by general assembly, exceptions–limitation on civil recovery against firearms or ammunitions manufacturers, when, exception.

No political subdivision is allowed to establish regulations, orders and ordinances regarding the possession and transportation of firearms, ammunition and other related supplies. Open carrying shall not be prohibited as long as the individual possesses a valid concealed carry endorsement or a Missouri carry permit, or a permit issued by another state. The said permit must be presented to a law enforcement officer when requested.

A carrier with no criminal intentions shall not be prohibited from carrying his firearm either concealed or openly.

Counties, cities, villages and other political subdivisions have the right to act against a breach of contract made by a firearms or ammunition manufacturer.

Missouri Revised Statutes
Chapter 563
Defense of Justification

563.026. Justification generally.
563.031. Use of force in defense of persons.
563.032. Battered spouse syndrome evidence that defendant acted in self-defense or defense of another—procedure.
563.036. Use of physical force in defense of premises.
563.041. Use of physical force in defense of property.
563.046. Law enforcement officer’s use of force in making an arrest.
563.051. Private person’s use of force in making an arrest.
563.056. Use of force to prevent escape from confinement
563.061. Use of force by persons with responsibility for care, discipline or safety of others.
563.070. Accidents an excuse for crime, when.

The laws regarding the use of knives in Missouri can be seen here.

Restaurant carrying is allowed in Missouri. “Restaurant Carry” means carrying a firearm in places that serve alcohol. This may or may not mean that an individual carrying a firearm is allowed to sit on the bar area of a restaurant. Nationalcarryacademy.com recommends carriers to avoid sitting on the bar area of a restaurant become for some states, this is considered illegal. When carrying, an individual should not drink. Taking just a single drink may be unlawful for most states. There are restaurants that prohibit possession of firearms like Friday’s and Red Lobster, and they post “No Gun” signs to warn the customers. To know more about the laws regarding carrying of firearms in places serving alcohol, review the laws of your state.

571.107.1. Establishments serving intoxicating beverages are considered off limits for carriers, but the owner of the said establishment who is a permit holder shall be exempted from this law. The law is not applicable to public restaurants that can serve more than fifty people. Permit holders are allowed to carry their firearms inside the vehicle when on such premises, but they should not take the firearms out of the vehicle. Carrying of firearms while under the influence of intoxicating liquor is not permitted by the law.

There are no laws found about the use of electric weapons, defensive sprays, stun guns and higher capacity magazines.

• Missouri Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act Information 1
• Missouri Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act Information 2
• State Statute on Retired Law Enforcement Officers

There are no related court cases and attorney general opinions found regarding the possession of firearms, but this does not mean that no AG opinions and court cases exist.

Carrying inside the airport terminals and parking lots is allowed in the state of Missouri. There is no set time period for the validity of a permit holder’s training. An individual’s residency is already established once he obtains his driver’s license issued by the state.

The minimum age to apply for a carry permit is 19 years old. Veterans and member of the United States Armed Forces who are at least 18 years old may apply as well.

Laws on State Reciprocity: 571.030.
Laws on Using Firearms: 571.01 thru .150 and 578.305
Laws on Using Deadly Force: 563.026 thru 563.070
Laws on Using Knives: 571.010 thru 571.020

No laws are found on the use of body armors and chemical and electric weapons.

The law of the state of Missouri does not have definitions for loaded and unloaded firearms. Because of this, we can assume that an unloaded firearm should have no cartridge in the firing chamber or magazine attached to it.

State of Emergency
Chapter 44 Civil Defense
Section 44.101
Firearms and Ammunition, State of Emergency, No Restriction Permitted.

44.101. The lawful possession, selling, transportation and use of firearms during an emergency situation shall not be prohibited by the state or any political subdivision.

Note: During a state of emergency, the federal law may apply if the state receives financial assistance from the federal government. To know more about the federal laws applicable during State of Emergencies, check the US Code 42-5207.

The required age to be able to possess and transport firearms that are unloaded and locked in a container inside the vehicle without the need for any type of license or permit is 18 years old.

Note: Some states are very strict when it comes to the possession and transportation of firearms. They only allow transporting guns to and from the gun shops, repair shops, shooting range, and home, business or any property owned by the carrier. Other states do not have restriction.

To know more about carrying a firearm in a vehicle across Missouri, check the “Traveling in a Vehicle with a Firearm without a Missouri Permit” section above.

4/12/15 – Initial page created.