CCW Division
Missouri's gun laws can be a bit overwhelming and are constantly changing. While our office is available to help with obtaining a concealed carry permit, we are not attorneys and cannot provide legal advice. It is your responsibility to be familiar with the laws governing the possession of firearms in Missouri so please reach out to an attorney for more specific information.
For questions regarding how to obtain a CCW permit, please contact our CCW Coordinator, Kaley Rodenberg or click HERE for more information.
Missouri House Bill 656, along with RSMo 571.101 through 571.126 and 571.205 through 571.230 govern concealed carry permits in Missouri.
Missouri is often referred to as a "Constitutional Carry" state in regard to open carry gun laws. However, it is more accurately described as an "Anomalous Open Carry" state which means carrying a gun openly is legal under state law, but local governments may have gun restriction laws that differ from the state's law.
Again, it is your responsibility to know what those local ordinances or laws are.
In regard to concealed carry, effective January 1, 2017, Missouri became a "Permitless Carry" state with the enactment of House Bill 656. This is NOT the same as "Constitutional Carry" which means the rights / privileges of someone holding a concealed carry permit are equal to those carrying without a permit. There are still a number of restrictions on permitless carry that do not apply to those who have a concealed carry permit. For example, local authorities are not allowed to place restrictions that differ from the state regulations regarding open carry on individuals who possess a Missouri concealed carry permit.
Per RSMo 571.215, no one is authorized to carry a concealed weapon into the following areas regardless of permit status:
(1) Any police, sheriff, or highway patrol office or station without the consent of the chief law enforcement officer in charge of that office or station.
(2) Within twenty-five feet of any polling place on any election day.
(3) The facility of any adult or juvenile detention or correctional institution, prison or jail.
(4) Any courthouse solely occupied by the circuit, appellate or supreme court, or any courtrooms, administrative offices, libraries, or other rooms of any such court whether or not such court solely occupies the building in question. This shall also include, but not be limited to, any juvenile, family, drug, or other court offices, any room or office wherein any of the courts or offices listed in this subdivision are temporarily conducting any business within the jurisdiction of such courts or offices, and such other locations in such manner as may be specified by supreme court rule.
(5) Any meeting of the governing body of a unit of local government, or any meeting of the general assembly or a committee of the general assembly, except that nothing shall preclude a member of the body holding a valid Missouri lifetime or extended concealed carry permit from carrying a concealed firearm at a meeting of the body which he or she is a member.
(6) The general assembly, supreme court, county, or municipality may by rule, administrative regulation, or ordinance prohibit or limit the carrying of concealed firearms by permit holders in that portion of a building owned, leased, or controlled by that unit of government. Any portion of a building in which the carrying of concealed firearms is prohibited or limited shall be clearly identified by signs posted at the entrance to the restricted area. The statute, rule, or ordinance shall exempt any building used for public housing by private persons, highways or rest areas, firing ranges, and private dwellings owned, leased, or controlled by that unit of government from any restriction on the carrying or possession of a firearm.
(7) Any establishment licensed to dispense intoxicating liquor for consumption on the premises, which portion is primarily devoted to that purpose, without the consent of the owner or manager. The provisions shall not apply to the licensee of said establishment. The provisions shall not apply to any bona fide restaurant open to the general public having dining facilities for not less than fifty persons and that receives at least fifty-one percent of its gross annual income from the dining facilities by the sale of food. Nothing authorizes any individual who has been issued a Missouri lifetime or extended concealed carry permit to possess any firearm while intoxicated.
(8) Any area of an airport to which access is controlled by the inspection of persons and property. Possession of a firearm in a vehicle on the premises of the airport shall not be a criminal offense so long as the firearm is not removed from the vehicle or brandished while the vehicle is on the premises.
(9) Any place where the carrying of a firearm is prohibited by federal law.
(10) Any higher education institution or elementary or secondary school facility without the consent of the governing body of the higher education institution or a school official or the district school board, unless the person with the Missouri lifetime or extended concealed carry permit is a teacher or administrator of an elementary or secondary school who has been designated by his or her school district as a school protection officer and is carrying a firearm in a school within that district, in which case no consent is required. Possession of a firearm in a vehicle on the premises of any higher education institution or elementary or secondary school facility shall not be a criminal offense so long as the firearm is not removed from the vehicle or brandished while the vehicle is on the premises.
(11) Any portion of a building used as a child care facility without the consent of the manager. Nothing shall prevent the operator of a child care facility in a family home from owning or possessing a firearm or a Missouri lifetime or extended concealed carry permit.
(12) Any riverboat gambling operation accessible by the public without the consent of the owner or manager under rules promulgated by the gaming commission.
(13) Any gated area of an amusement park. Possession of a firearm in a vehicle on the premises of the amusement park shall not be a criminal offense so long as the firearm is not removed from the vehicle or brandished while the vehicle is on the premises.
(14) Any church or other place of religious worship without the consent of the minister or person or persons representing the religious organization that exercises control over the place of religious worship.
(15) Any private property whose 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 owner, business or commercial lessee, manager of a private business enterprise, or any other organization, entity, or person may prohibit persons holding a Missouri lifetime or extended concealed carry permit from carrying concealed firearms on the premises and may prohibit employees, not authorized by the employer, holding a Missouri lifetime or extended concealed carry permit from carrying concealed firearms on the property of the employer. If the building or the premises are open to the public, the employer of the business enterprise shall post signs on or about the premises if carrying a concealed firearm is prohibited. Possession of a firearm in a vehicle on the premises shall not be a criminal offense so long as the firearm is not removed from the vehicle or brandished while the vehicle is on the premises. An employer may prohibit employees or other persons holding a Missouri lifetime or extended concealed carry permit from carrying a concealed firearm in vehicles owned by the employer.
(16) Any sports arena or stadium with a seating capacity of five thousand or more. Possession of a firearm in a vehicle on the premises shall not be a criminal offense so long as the firearm is not removed from the vehicle or brandished while the vehicle is on the premises.
(17) Any hospital accessible by the public. Possession of a firearm in a vehicle on the premises of a hospital shall not be a criminal offense so long as the firearm is not removed from the vehicle or brandished while the vehicle is on the premises.
Residents with a concealed carry permit are allowed to carry in over 36 other states that have reciprocity with Missouri. Residents without a permit are only allowed to conceal carry in Missouri.
* The above information is subject to change at any time and without notice. *
* Nothing on this site is meant to supersede or overrule Missouri state laws or federal laws regulating the possession of firearms or concealed carry permits. *
CCW Coordinator, Kaley Rodenberg
