Is it easy to buy a gun in Mississippi? Here’s what it takes to get a firearms permit.

There have been two mass shootings on the Mississippi Coast in less than a week, both of them claiming the lives of teens ages 16 to 19.

Suspects have been named in the shooting at an after-prom party in Bay St. Louis and at a Cinco de Mayo party at Scratch Kitchen restaurant in Ocean Springs.

The suspected shooters are young — one is 19 and the other is 22.

The shootings have left two communities in mourning and have put guns in the spotlight. So the Sun Herald examined the process of getting a firearms permit in Mississippi.

The Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS) issues licenses to carry stun guns, concealed pistols or revolvers. The licenses last five years. The state does not require residents to register hunting rifles.

To qualify for a permit, the applicant must:

• Be a Mississippi resident

• Be at least 21 years of age, 18 if a member or veteran of the armed forces

• Have a valid Mississippi driver’s license or identification card issued by the DPS with your current address

• The applicant cannot be a convicted felon, abuse alcohol or controlled substances, or suffer an infirmity that would prevent the safe handling of a firearm. There are exceptions to each condition.

Can an alcoholic or drug addict qualify for a gun permit?

Yes, if they haven’t been treated or convicted in the last two years, state law says someone with substance abuse in their past will qualify for a permit. The abuse of alcohol and controlled substances are verified via convictions and commitments to treatment facilities in the two-year time period.

Can someone deemed mentally ill qualify for a permit?

• Anyone who has been judged mentally incompetent can qualify for a permit five years after the court says their mental capacity has been restored.

• Certification from a Mississippi psychiatrist can also qualify, if the certification says the patient has not suffered from the disability for at least five years.

Can a convicted felon get a permit?

• A convicted felon cannot obtain a permit to carry a firearm, but if a felony sentence was suspended or a conviction was withheld, you may qualify for a gun permit.

• A withheld conviction means you are not convicted, but your record could still say you pleaded guilty, pleaded no contest or were found guilty by a jury. To qualify for the permit, any conditions set by the court must be fulfilled, three years must elapse since probation and you cannot be a fugitive.

• If a federal law says you cannot have a gun permit, state laws are null and void.

• Once you confirm you qualify to carry, the Mississippi DPS says you can get a permit in four steps.

Here are the steps to get a firearms permit in Mississippi:

Step one: Determine the fees

Fees for a first-time firearm permit can range from $32 to $112. Those with a military or law enforcement background can get a firearm permit for $32. Renewals are the same price.

The general public must pay $112.

Anyone 65 years and older can save on renewals. The typical $72 renewal fee is reduced to $52 for seniors.

All first-time and renewal applicants have to get a background check, which currently costs $32. The fee is included in the $112 total. State law says the permit fee is $80 plus the cost of the background check.

Step two: Fill out the application

The concealed/enhanced carry application is available online and includes a form that must be signed and witnessed by a notary public.

If you qualify for a military or law enforcement discount, you have to include proof. Active duty military can include a copy of your current orders.

Disabled veterans can use a verification letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office, a service-connected disability letter from ebenefits, or a veteran health identification card with the service-connected designation.

Active and retired law enforcement can use a letter that specifies you have either honorably retired or currently work for the agency on your agency’s letterhead. The letter should also say you completed a certified law enforcement academy.

The application asks for your full name, other aliases, date of birth, current address and your current occupation. It also asks you to provide either your driver’s license number or your social security number.

The demographic information, like weight, height, race, etc. includes your hair and eye color. The application asks for your gender but includes the option to choose “not specified” as an option.

Step three: Print and sign the application

Remember that some parts of the application requires the presence of a notary.

Step four: Submit the application

First-time applicants have to submit the application in person. On the Coast, offices are located in Picayune, Kiln, Biloxi, Gautier and Gulfport. They will take your picture and accept payment during the process.

Picayune

• 917 Goodyear Blvd.

• Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday

Kiln

• 16603 Hwy. 603

• Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday

Biloxi

• 16741 Hwy. 67 S.

• Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday

Gautier

• 7886 Hwy. 57 in Vancleave

• Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday

Gulfport

14035 L Airport Road

• Located inside the airport on the first floor near baggage claim two

• Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday

• By appointment only, for renewals and duplicates only

Applicants must present identification when they apply. If you are active-duty military or a spouse of active-duty military stationed in Mississippi, but not a resident of the state, you have to provide your military orders, an original birth certificate and a social security card with your state ID.

Applications take up to 45 days to process and mail. If you apply in person for a renewal, it will be renewed on the spot, but revoked later if you fail the background check.