With crime increasing throughout America, it’s become more important than ever to have the ability to defend yourself. That’s why I’ve written this article so good law-abiding citizens like you will know what you can use to defend yourself in the Magnolia State.
These Self Defense Weapons are Legal in Mississippi
The following self-defense weapons are legal on Mississippi
- Firearms
- Pepperspray
- Standard stun guns
- Some knives
- Tactical Pens
- Personal alarms
Mississippi Gun Laws
Mississippi respects the right to bear arms therefore there’s no need to register a gun or get a concealed carry permit in most cases.
Do you need a permit to carry a gun in Mississippi?
No, you do not need a concealed carry permit to carry a gun in The State of Mississippi. There are some minor restrictions on where you may carry a concealed weapon:
- A bar
- Government meeting place
- Parades
- Schools
- Inside a courtroom (but you can inside a court building)
Honesty in Purchasing Firearms Act
It’s important to know that Mississippi does have a law saying you’re not allowed to provide false information to a dealer or seller to get a gun. Providing false information constitutes a felony. You also can’t try to bribe a dealer into selling you a firearm that you’re not allowed to have.
(1) Any person who knowingly solicits, persuades, encourages or entices a licensed dealer or private seller of firearms or ammunition to transfer a firearm or ammunition under circumstances which the person knows would violate the laws of this state or the United States is guilty of a felony.
(2) Any person who provides to a licensed dealer or private seller of firearms or ammunition what the person knows to be materially false information with intent to deceive the dealer or seller about the legality of a transfer of a firearm or ammunition is guilty of a felony.
(3) Any person found guilty of violating the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine not exceeding Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) or imprisoned in the custody of the Department of Corrections for not more than three (3) years, or both.
(4) This section does not apply to a law enforcement officer acting in the officer’s official capacity or to a person acting at the direction of a law enforcement officer.
Mississippi Self Defense Laws
Mississippi is a stand your ground and castle doctrine state.
This means that are you allowed to use up to deadly force to defend yourself, someone else, or your property and there is no duty to retreat. It’s important to note that you absolutely could not have started the altercation to be covered under this protection. In other words, you couldn’t have intentionally shoved someone and then shoot him when he shoves you back.
Some situations where deadly force is allowed:
- If you believe someone is about to use unlawful deadly force;
- If you believe that a burglar is about to use physical force;
- If someone is about to rape, kidnap, assault, or rob you.
- When a person attempts to unlawfully enter a home or vehicle, or attempts to remove a person from such in order to occupy it.
- When someone attempts to injure another person
(1) The killing of a human being by the act, procurement or omission of another shall be justifiable in the following cases:
(e) When committed by any person in resisting any attempt unlawfully to kill such person or to commit any felony upon him, or upon or in any dwelling, in any occupied vehicle, in any place of business, in any place of employment or in the immediate premises thereof in which such person shall be;
Mississippi Knife Laws
You may not carry the following knives concealed out in public in Mississippi:
- Dirks
- Bowie Knives
- Butcher Knives
- Switchblades
(1) Except as otherwise provided in Section 45-9-101, any person who carries, concealed on or about one’s person, any bowie knife, dirk knife, butcher knife, switchblade knife, metallic knuckles, blackjack, slingshot, pistol, revolver, or any rifle with a barrel of less than sixteen (16) inches in length, or any shotgun with a barrel of less than eighteen (18) inches in length, machine gun or any fully automatic firearm or deadly weapon, or any muffler or silencer for any firearm, whether or not it is accompanied by a firearm, or uses or attempts to use against another person any imitation firearm, shall, upon conviction, be punished as follows:
(a) By a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six (6) months, or both, in the discretion of the court, for the first conviction under this section.(b) By a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), and imprisonment in the county jail for not less than thirty (30) days nor more than six (6) months, for the second conviction under this section.(c) By confinement in the custody of the Department of Corrections for not less than one (1) year nor more than five (5) years, for the third or subsequent conviction under this section.
Are Brass Knuckles Legal in Mississippi
You may own brass knuckles but you may not carry them concealed in public in Mississippi
(1) Except as otherwise provided in Section 45-9-101, any person who carries, concealed on or about one’s person, any bowie knife, dirk knife, butcher knife, switchblade knife, metallic knuckles, blackjack, slingshot, pistol, revolver, or any rifle with a barrel of less than sixteen (16) inches in length, or any shotgun with a barrel of less than eighteen (18) inches in length, machine gun or any fully automatic firearm or deadly weapon, or any muffler or silencer for any firearm, whether or not it is accompanied by a firearm, or uses or attempts to use against another person any imitation firearm, shall, upon conviction, be punished as follows:
(a) By a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six (6) months, or both, in the discretion of the court, for the first conviction under this section.(b) By a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), and imprisonment in the county jail for not less than thirty (30) days nor more than six (6) months, for the second conviction under this section.(c) By confinement in the custody of the Department of Corrections for not less than one (1) year nor more than five (5) years, for the third or subsequent conviction under this section.
Pepper Spray is Legal to Carry in Mississippi?
Pepper spray (also known as capsaicin spray) is a lachrymatory agent (a chemical compound that irritates the eyes to cause a burning sensation, pain, and temporary blindness) used in policing, riot control, crowd control, and self-defense, including defense against dogs and bears. Its inflammatory effects cause the eyes to close, taking away vision.
This temporary blindness allows officers to more easily restrain subjects and permits people in danger to use pepper spray in self-defense for an opportunity to escape. It also causes temporary discomfort and burning of the lungs which causes shortness of breath.
You may use or carry pepper spray anywhere in Mississippi. It is a crime to use pepper spray offensively. In fact, Idaho has a law against chemical weapons that explicitly exempts pepper spray.
Exception:
You’re not allowed to have pepper spray if you’re a convicted felon.
Personal Alarms are Legal in Mississippi
When you think of a self-defense weapon an alarm may not be the first thing that comes to mind but believe me a personal alarm is one of the best self-defense weapons that you can have! This isn’t an ordinary alarm.
A personal alarm is more produces a sound of more than 100 decibels. That’s louder than a jackhammer! Trust me when I say it’s shrill and loud. You wouldn’t want this alarm sounding in your ear. Also, causing a scene by making a lot of noise is a great tool to defend yourself against any surprise attack whether it be a mugger or purse snatcher. You can get a good personal alarm here.
Tactical Pens are Legal in Mississippi
A tactical pen is essentially a hidden self-defense tool. What better way to hide a defense weapon other than in plain sight. It can be used for writing, stopping someone by causing a minor wound, breaking things and even breaking glass if you use it well.
The tactical pens were created for people who don’t want to use a gun for self-defense and wish to have some useful things that can potentially become a weapon. You can get the Ape Survival Multi-Use Tactical pen for free here. It’s a screw diver, hexa-wrench, flashlight, and glass breaker, and yes it actually writes. And of course, it’s legal in the Gem State.
A Flashlight
I’m sure we’ve all seen those huge mag lights that the cops use. Trust me, those are a really effective weapon and do a lot of damage. However, their size makes them impractical for most people to carry around with them. That’s why there’s a better alternative. A mini tactical flashlight.
A mini tactical flashlight has a strobe function to temporarily blind an attacker and a beveled edge to give you a leg up should you ever need to engage in hand-to-hand combat. Here’s my review of the J5 (eva tac) flashlight.
Useful Resources:
Best Left-Handed Concealed Carry Holsters