Is concealed carry legal in Missouri? Do you need a permit? What state gun laws say

Natalie Wallington
·3 min read
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Missouri is well-known as a firearm-friendly state, placing few restrictions on who can openly carry guns. But where are you allowed to carry a concealed weapon — and what permissions do you need in order to do so?

We’ve heard from readers wondering what Missouri laws say about so-called “concealed carry” in the state.

“Is it legal or illegal to carry (a) concealed weapon in Missouri?” one reader asked over email.

Here’s what to know exactly what rules govern concealed carry in Missouri, and how they apply in Kansas City specifically.

Is concealed carry legal in Missouri?

Yes, concealed carry is legal in Missouri. The state used to require a state-issued concealed carry permit for gun owners to conceal their weapons — but the legislature overturned that rule in 2016.

“Effective January 1, 2017 unless you are traveling to a state that requires a Missouri Concealed Carry Permit, you DO NOT need to purchase a Concealed Carry Permit,” the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department’s website states.

Getting a concealed carry permit requires an application, a permit fee and proof of completion of an eight-hour firearm training course. Gun owners may choose to get a permit if they are traveling out of state or wish to carry a gun openly in a municipality that requires a permit.

Who can carry a concealed weapon in Missouri?

There are some exceptions to who can carry a concealed gun in Missouri — mostly stemming from federal firearms laws.

For example, federal law prohibits those under age 18 from possessing handguns or handgun ammunition. However, there are exceptions to this rule for employment, farm work, hunting, target practice, military service and self defense.

Both federal and Missouri law prohibit people from possessing firearms — concealed or otherwise — if they have been convicted of a felony. Missouri law also bans anyone who “is a fugitive from justice, is habitually in an intoxicated or drugged condition, or is currently adjudged mentally incompetent” from possessing a gun.

Do I need a permit to carry a concealed weapon in Missouri?

Unless you are a member of a restricted group, you can bring a concealed gun almost anywhere you like in Missouri without a state-issued permit — including in Kansas City. However, you generally cannot bring a concealed firearm into the following places:

  • Police stations

  • Courtrooms

  • Prisons and jails

  • Within 25 feet of any polling place on Election Day

  • Government assembly meetings

  • Liquor stores

  • Secure areas of any airport

  • Any school or daycare center

  • Amusement parks or riverboat casinos

  • Any house of worship

  • Hospitals

  • Arenas or stadiums that hold more than 5,000 people

  • Any private property clearly marked as being off-limits to concealed firearms

Missouri no longer requires a concealed carry permit to carry a concealed gun anywhere else in the state. However, the state allows municipalities like Kansas City to require these permits from people who want to carry a gun openly within city limits.

Openly carrying a gun in Kansas City without a Missouri concealed carry permit is technically not allowed — but the fine for not having this permit or not showing it to authorities is capped at $35. The city itself cannot restrict concealed carry unless it happens in one of the protected places listed above.

Does Missouri recognize concealed carry permits from other states?

Two readers with concealed carry permits from other states also wanted to know whether their permits are valid in Missouri. According to Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s office, Missouri recognizes concealed carry permits from all other states.

“Missouri’s concealed carry law provides recognition of concealed weapons permits from every state that issues them,” the office’s website states.

This map from the Missouri Attorney General’s office shows which U.S. states recognize Missouri’s concealed carry permits, and under what circumstances.
This map from the Missouri Attorney General’s office shows which U.S. states recognize Missouri’s concealed carry permits, and under what circumstances.

Nearly half the states in the U.S. also engage in something called “concealed carry reciprocity,” meaning they recognize Missouri’s concealed carry permits and Missouri recognizes theirs. North Carolina and Kansas, which readers asked about, are among these states.

While Missouri gun owners don’t need a concealed carry permit in most of Missouri, those traveling across state lines may need one to have their concealed carry rights recognized by authorities in other states.

Do you have more questions about firearm laws in Kansas City? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.