Missouri has lenient gun laws which allow law-abiding adults aged 19 and older to carry a gun without a license or permit. If residents choose to go the extra step and obtain concealed carry licenses, they may bring a firearm into locations off-limits to others.
While both open and concealed carry is legal, it is essential to acknowledge that there are certain circumstances where having a gun may result in unlawful use of weapons charges.
1. Do not carry a gun into a restricted area
Some locations do not allow people to bring a gun onto the premises unless they are law enforcement officers or possess concealed carry licenses. These places include:
- churches
- police stations
- poling locations
- courthouses
- schools and school buses
- federal and local government buildings
An unloaded or nonfunctioning gun is exempt from the restriction if the holders do not have access to ammunition. Felony charges may result if offenders bring guns onto a K-12 school campus.
2. Avoid brandishing a gun while intoxicated
While it is not illegal to possess a gun when drunk, intoxication from alcohol can cloud peoples’ judgment about weapon safety. Missouri law prohibits people from acting negligently, shooting or waving around a gun while drunk.
3. Refrain from shooting the weapon in unauthorized locations
Gun owners must act responsibly when firing their guns. If people shoot a firearm into an occupied building, within 100 yards of a school or church or across a public roadway, they have broken the law.
While Missouri allows many residents to carry a gun, it is necessary to understand the regulations to avoid any unlawful use of weapons charges.