Weapons Charges in Missouri

Missouri has some of the most permissive gun laws in the country and is considered a constitutional carry state. Despite this, rules still exist regarding who can possess or carry a gun and where. Read on to learn the basics of Missouri’s gun laws.

Open and Concealed Carry in Missouri

You don't need a permit to carry handguns or other firearms—either openly or concealed—in Missouri. The state generally allows open and concealed carry by individuals who are not prohibited persons and who don’t carry in restricted places. (More on these restrictions below.)

However, there's an exception to the general rule allowing open and concealed carry—the law prohibits exhibiting any weapon capable of lethal use in an angry or threatening manner around one or more persons. A violation is a Class E felony, punishable with a sentence of up to four years in prison. (Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 571.030, 571.037 (2026).)

The Value of a Missouri Concealed Carry Permit

Even though concealed carry permits are no longer required in Missouri, the state still offers them. Having a concealed carry permit offers three main advantages.

First, some states that criminalize the unlicensed carry of a firearm will honor an out-of-state permit. So, a Missouri concealed carry permit may allow its holder to legally carry their weapon in another state without having to go through that state's permitting process. Of course, it's important to know the rules that apply to you outside of Missouri; the Missouri Attorney General's website has a map and additional information about how and where this reciprocity works.

Second, Missouri bars concealed carry in specific locations. A concealed carry license doesn't mean these restrictions don't apply. But they do mean that the penalties for a violation are much less severe. We'll discuss these rules in more detail below.

Third, local governments are allowed under state law to bar the open carry of firearms. However, people with concealed carry permits, and who have their permits with them are exempt from these local laws. (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 21.750(3)(2) (2026).)

Who Is a Prohibited Person?

Very few restrictions exist on who may possess or own a gun in Missouri. The main prohibition applies to felons.

Can Felons Own or Possess Guns in Missouri?

No. Having a felony conviction makes one a prohibited person in Missouri. Other persons prohibited from possessing a firearm include fugitives, those adjudicated mentally incompetent, and anyone who’s habitually drunk or on drugs.

Possessing a firearm (unless it’s an antique firearm) as a prohibited person is a Class C felony in Missouri and carries up to seven years in prison. The penalty increases to a Class B felony—and up to 10 years of prison time if:

• the person has a prior conviction for unlawful possession of a firearm, or
• the person has been convicted of a dangerous felony.

Missouri's criminal code lists the specific serious offenses that qualify as "dangerous felonies," including crimes like arson, assault, murder, kidnapping, rape, and robbery.

(Mo. Rev. Stat. § 571.070 (2026); Mo. Rev. Stat. § 556.061(19) (2026).)

Can Minors Possess Firearms in Missouri?

Missouri law doesn't specifically make it a crime for minors to have guns. However, it's still important to know several key rules regarding minors' access to firearms. In this context, you're a minor if you're under 19 (or under 18, if you're a member of the military or have been honorably discharged from the military.

Minors are ineligible for Missouri concealed carry permits. (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 571.101(2)(2) (2026).) As we'll talk about in more detail below, this means they face criminal penalties if under state law if they carry a concealed weapon in a variety of unauthorized locations (including schools, churches, sports arenas, and many government buildings). And, as we discussed earlier, you are subject to local laws barring open carry of firearms unless you have a concealed carry permit. So, there is no way for minors to exempt themselves from these local restrictions.

It's a Class A misdemeanor to "recklessly" sell or give a firearm to a minor without the consent of the child's parent. Under Missouri law, it's reckless to give a minor a gun if you're consciously disregarding a substantial and unjustifiable risk, and behaving more carelessly than a reasonable person would in the same situation. (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 571.060 (2026); Mo. Rev. Stat. § 556.061(42) (2026).)

Selling or Giving Firearms to Prohibited Persons

You can be charged with a Class E felony if you knowingly give, loan, or sell a gun or ammunition to a prohibited person. It's also illegal (a Class A misdemeanor) to give a gun to anyone who's intoxicated. A person convicted of a Class A misdemeanor faces up to a year in jail.

(Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 571.060, 571.070 (2026).)

Where Guns and Other Deadly Weapons Are Banned

It's against the law in Missouri to carry a gun or other deadly weapon (such as switchblade knives, daggers, billy clubs, or metal knuckles) in the following places:

• child care facilities, K-12 schools, and higher education institutions
• places of worship
• an election precinct on election day, and
• a federal or state governmental building.

There are many exceptions, including for those with concealed carry permits, law enforcement officers, and anyone acting in legal self-defense. The restrictions also don't apply if the gun isn't accessible or functional, or if it's unloaded and you don't have accessible ammunition.

For a violation, you can be charged with a Class E felony for bringing a loaded gun to school or a Class A misdemeanor if it’s unloaded. It’s a Class B misdemeanor (up to 6 months in jail) for bringing a firearm to one of the other restricted locations.

Where Missouri Prohibits Concealed Firearms

A number of other places in Missouri are off-limits for carrying concealed firearms even with a permit. These locations include:

• police, sheriff, and highway patrol stations
• within 25 feet of polling places on an election day
• courthouses, jails, and detention facilities
• government meetings (with exceptions for members of the governing body)
• bars and other licensed businesses that get more than half of their income from liquor sales for on-site consumption (without consent)
• schools, colleges, and universities (except for school protection officers)
• childcare facilities
• churches and other places of religious worship
• large sports arenas and stadiums
• amusement parks
• airports (in the areas past the security checkpoints)
• anywhere guns are banned under federal law
• riverboat gambling facilities
• hospitals, and
• any private property where the owner has posted signs prohibiting guns.

It's generally okay to have a gun in your car at these restricted locations, as long as you don't brandish it and it remains in the vehicle. It's also possible to legally carry a concealed weapon at some of these locations if you have the explicit consent of the owner or manager.

As we mentioned above, the penalties for violating these rules depend on whether or not you have a concealed carry permit. If you don't have a permit, then the penalty for a violation is usually a Class B misdemeanor. There's an exception for the violation of entering onto private property with posted signs prohibiting guns, which is punishable by the same rules that apply if you do have a concealed carry permit.

If you do have a valid concealed carry permit, violating these restrictions on where you can carry a weapon will not result in criminal charges. Instead, you'll simply be asked to leave. However, you may receive a citation and be punished with a fine if you refuse to cooperate. Repeated violations of these rules is punished by escalating fines and the suspension or revocation of your concealed carry permit.

(Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 571.030, 571.107 (2026).)

Unlawful Use of Weapons in Missouri

Except when you're acting in self-defense (or as part of official law enforcement or similar duties), Missouri outlaws shooting a gun in the following circumstances:

• at a person
• from or at a vehicle
• into a house, train, boat, aircraft, motor vehicle, or any building where people gather
• across or along a public highway, or
• within 100 yards of an occupied school, courthouse, or church building.

Other illegal uses of weapons include:

• handling or using a firearm in a negligent way while you're intoxicated
• having a firearm while in possession of a felony amount of illegal drugs, and
• setting a spring gun.

Criminal charges for these offenses range from Class B misdemeanors to Class E felonies.

You may also face more serious penalties in Missouri if you use a deadly weapon to commit some other crimes, like assault. (Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 565.052, 571.030 (2026).)

Finding Legal Help

Any time you're facing a possible weapons charge, it's important to speak with an experienced criminal defense lawyer who can evaluate your case and help protect your legal rights throughout the criminal justice process.

Changes in the Law

States can change their laws at any time, but you can use this Library of Congress search tool to find the current versions of Missouri statutes discussed in this article. However, court decisions may affect the interpretation and application of those laws—another good reason to speak to a lawyer if you're concerned about how the law applies to your situation.