Mississippi Concealed Weapon Charges

Mississippi is shall-issue state, which means that a concealed weapons permit will be issued to all residents who can pass a federal background check. Applications must be submitted to the Department of Public Safety and the individual must be at least 21 years old. If a permit is granted, it will be valid for a period of five years.

Mississippi Weapons Laws

It is illegal to carry a concealed handgun with or without a license in the following areas:

• Courthouse
• Police state or detention facility
• Polling place
• Any place where a legislative or government body is meeting
• A public park
• Schools and colleges
• Places of worship
• Wherever a parade is taking place
• Any place a demonstration is in progress
• Property where a sign is posted prohibiting a firearm
• Wherever federal law prohibits firearms
• Establishments engaged in primarily serving alcohol for consumption on the property
• Airport passenger terminals, unless the gun is encased for shipment

It is against the law for any parent or guardian to permit a child under the age of 18 to own or carry a concealed weapon.

Mississippi Concealed Weapons Violations

It is legal to carry a firearm or deadly weapon concealed within a person's residence or place of business. The Mississippi weapons violations for carrying concealed are as follows:

Criminal Charges & Plea Options

Going before a judge and entering a plea to criminal charges can be a frightening experience. However, if you know what your rights are ahead of time, this can make it easier to stay calm. Once the judge determines that there is enough evidence to proceed, you will be asked to enter a plea:

• Not Guilty: A pre-trial date will be set and the case will continue.
• Guilty: It's not a good idea to plead guilty without first trying to work out a plea bargain with the prosecutor.
• No Contest: This is pretty much the same as pleading guilty, even though the defendant is not admitting guilt. It's only useful to avoid liability in a civil lawsuit or to have your record expunged at a later date.

A plea agreement allows the individual to plead guilty to a lesser offense, which saves the prosecutor from actually trying the case.

Consult a Mississippi Criminal Defense Attorney

Never enter a plea in court without being represented by legal counsel. It's important to hire a skilled criminal defense attorney who has actual litigation experience. They will work hard to take on the prosecution and possibly even get the charges reduced or dismissed.