AR, AL, TN, IN, MS, MO: any CCW quirks I should be aware of?

[Monkeyleg]

I'm going to be leaving to check out some cities in the south, and will be going through Missouri, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama and Indiana. I'm pretty sure I know the laws (no carry in places that serve alcohol), but are there any quirks in the laws I might not be aware of?

Thanks for any replies.

 

[DeepSouth]

I don't know of anything out of the ordinary for AL.

Just the normal ones I'm sure you already know.

No consuming alcohol when carrying
No public gatherings
No Gov buildings
No doing illegal drugs while carrying
No shooting at the Governor
No drive by shootings
Ect.

 

[Monkeyleg]

How's that no drive-by shooting law working?

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I'm pretty sure I know the laws (no carry in places that serve alcohol), but are there any quirks in the laws I might not be aware of?

TN recently repealed the "no guns in bars" law. Carry in city parks is also now allowed. However, both business establishments and cities/parks can "opt out" of the law. Since there is no way to keep track of every law in every city you might find yourself in, hopefully they will be clearly posted to avoid confusion and inadvertent violations (for which they will claim "ignorance of the law is no defense"). TN's permit is called a "Handgun Carry Permit." I take this to mean that you can only carry a handgun, no other weapons.

 

[tdowell]

As long as you have a CCW that Missouri accepts, you can carry anywhere except some gov offices, even if they have a sign, the worst they can do is ask you to leave. Then, you can put it in the car and go back in. Missouri is pretty pro gun so i wouldn't worry about it here. Oh yes, and no bars, no drinking AT ALL while carrying. Enjoy your trip.

Here are the Missouri laws if you'd like to review them.

http://www.moga.mo.gov/STATUTES/C571.HTM

 

[AgentAdam]

TN is open and/or concealed. I read everywhere that MS is both but i have never seen any one open and figure they would rather you conceal it and also never read anything about open carry in the MS permit package or on there website. I do know the MS packet mentions being able to carry either two pistols or two revolvers, or I'm assuming one of each.

http://www.dps.state.ms.us/dps/dps.nsf/divpages/hp2firearm?OpenDocument

MS laws are also very lenient letting you to car carry without a permit as your vehicle is an extension of your home. Some states let you follow the rules of your state. TN was also trying to pass a law that you could use deadly force in the event of ANY carjacking,attempted kidnapping,assault,robbery,ect in the vicinity of you car in a parking lot basically extending the castle law. I don't know if it passed or not.

 

[jljenkins28]

No carrying in Church in AR.

 

[ThrottleJockey72]

Well according to the Indiana state police the laws from your home state that issued your permit are the laws that govern your carry there and they honor ALL other states permits. They say they are the only state that does this and I tend to believe them. Since I live in MN and we allow carry in bars and actually place a BAC restriction on carry, I carry in bars in Indiana too. No problems yet.

 

[edSky]

No carrying in Church in AR.

Also, a good part of Hot Springs, AR, is a National Park. So carry there is off until February, God willing.

 

[bhk]

Actually in Missouri, you can carry in a restaurant that serves alcohol. You cannot carry in a place that gets more than half its income from alcohol, or sit in a portion of a restaurant that is primarily devoted to serving alcohol.

There is no law against having a drink while carrying in Missouri, but it is against the law to be under the 'influence' while carryiing. The law does not define 'under the influence' and I would not want to be a test case. I know some folks who will have a glass of wine with dinner while carrying. I doubt this would make them fall under the 'under the influence' rule, but who knows what a crazy prosecuter might do.

 

[Splitzx]

Only places you can't carry in Indiana are Schools, Government buildings and Casinos. Everywhere else is fair game. Open carry is also allowed. You do not have a need to inform officers of you carrying either.

As a Hoosier with a wife from Alabama, she would be offended by saying Indiana is "south". We are not nearly as nice up here as they are down there, also no one I know fought for anything but the Blue.

 

[ThrottleJockey72]

Only places you can't carry in Indiana are Schools, Government buildings and Casinos. Everywhere else is fair game. Open carry is also allowed.

I'm pretty sure the open carry in IN still requires a permit.

 

[Hoxviii]

It doesn't directly have to do with CCW, but in Missouri you can carry a "concealable firearm" loaded in your vehicle at any time concealed or openly so long as you're a non-resident and 18 -or- a resident and 21.

Also as was said, carrying into an establishment with a "no guns" sign isn't a crime in Missouri. You can be asked to leave, and upon refusal the police will be called and you will be fined. But again, they have to ask you to leave first and well, concealed IS concealed now isn't it?

 

[Ric]

IN has national reciprocity (even though Lugar voted against it for the rest of the country)
Open carry
Castle doctrine
Lifetime permits
Be a good boy and no one will bother you.

 

[HoosierQ]

So in what sense does Indiana have open carry? I am not being facetious at all here...just asking. I am under the impression that here in Indiana one has to have the "License to Carry a Handgun" to either open or concealed carry. I do know that here we are not compelled to to conceal with the permit. I didn't think we could open carry without the license. Please advise me as I may be wrong.

Our "permit" does not make any specifications as to how a handgun is carried on the person or in a vehicle and is at the person level, permitting "any handgun lawfully possessed...".

Indiana recognizes the permit of every other state in the Union who has one. Not sure what we do with Alaska and Vermont that don't issue permits because they aren't required...I think you're cool. On the other hand, a place like Illinois, our neighbor...well sorry Charlie.

What I do know is that Indiana is a very 2A friendly state. I have a buddy from Texas who lives up here these days and likes our laws just fine. You'll have no worries in the Hoosier State. Indiana is probably the most gun friendly state "in the North" until you get way up in northern New England (VT, NH, ME) where the 2A kicks back in again in full force.

 

[DeepSouth]

See www.opencarry.org

Specifically this link

 

[jimmyraythomason]

No carrying in Church in AR.

By what authority was this done and at what level. I don't think there are any legal grounds that a city,county or state government could ban lawful, open or concealed, carry in a church.

 

[MAURICE]

The no carry in church law in AR is a state law, jimmyraythomason. I don't agree with it, but IIRC law makers are reconsidering it. At this point though, it is a no no. Also no carry in bars, schools, any state agency office, etc. You can carry in a resturant that serves alcohol, but drinking is verboten.

FWIW, I have never had an LEO look twice at my permit. They usually say thanks and hand it back to me.

 

[AgentAdam]

I thought i read no Church carry in the newer MS packet/laws but that should be up to the discretion of each church. I guess it falls into the "public gathering" category.

 

[razorback2003]

Arkansas=Journey

If you are on a journey in Arkansas, and 18, you can carry pretty much wherever you want without a license, including schools, churches, no notifying people before you go into their houses, properly worded signs don't mean anything. It is real funny that you have LESS restrictions when on a journey than when not on one with a license. You have to be 21 to get a license and must conceal. Technically, when on a journey, you may carry however you like. I would conceal though for obvious reasons.

I live in TN and have a handgun carry permit. Thankfully you can carry here anywhere except the following locations pretty much (i'm not a lawyer):

1. Felony Offense : School Property - Limited Exception to leaving in car or when dropping off or picking up passengers.
2. Felony Offense: INSIDE a courtroom during a judicial proceeding.

3. Misdemeanor Offense: Local Parks on 9/1/09 MUST have properly worded signs in proper locations OR you can legally carry. Check the law. It is a mess. I would conceal very well at a local park b/c some you are legal some you are not and it is so not worth the hassle of going to court to prove you were legal.

4.Misdemeanor $500 Fine: Establishments with properly worded signs. Check the statutes. A business, govt entity, or other property may post signs to prohibit firearms. Generally, a no guns sign doesn't cut it. It has to be a long worded out sign. I rarely see these signs. I've never heard anyone charged with this offense that has a permit. I would just conceal.

5.Misdemeanor Offense: Carrying inside places open to PUBLIC that serve alcohol EXCEPT restaurants. All establishments in Tennessee must have a 'restaurant' license to serve liquor or wine and serve food...whether it be a 'bar' or 'restaurant'. So you are generally ok carrying anywhere now that serves alcohol b/c other places that serve alcohol are not open to the public...such as a country club, VFW, supper club.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

I still don't see how Arkansas can legally justify this. It would seem to be a violation of not only the 2nd amendment but the 1st amendment as well.

 

[Kleanbore]

Missouri

Make sure you have a CCW that Missouri honors if you intend to carry it, OK for non resident to have in car without it if over 18.

Check your state on here:

http://www.handgunlaw.us/

Read about where you cannot carry on here:

http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C500-599/5710000107.HTM

Add buses and the St. Louis Metrolink light rail system to the list.

For posted private property not specifically listed, carrying constitutes trespass with little consequence the first time, but don't risk repeated offenses.

No requirement to retreat from your occupied domicile or automobile. Domicile includes tents, RVs, hotel rooms.

Do not exhibit weapon in a threatening manner unless necessitated as part of lawful act of self defense.

Deadly force not permissible to protect property.

Lawful to protect third person.

No requirement to inform during traffic stops.

No open carry in many counties--no listing is available.

Don't cross into Illinois with a handgun unless passing all the way through without staying over, and then store as prescribed in Federal law.

Do not take this as legal advice.

 

[61chalk]

Indiana also honors handgun permits from other countries as well...HoosierQ,
I "think" you need the Handgun permit to open carry. Anyone can correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[22-rimfire]

You didn't say if your handgun carry permit was honored in these states. But I will assume that it is.

In TN, I would advise against open carry in urban areas. It is technically legal with a valid permit. AL doesn't honor a lot of out of state permits. Never could figure that one out, but they honor the adjacent state permits.

You didn't say you were going through GA, but it is about the same as TN.

 

[Monkeyleg]

I'll be using a Florida non-resident permit. The Madison county sheriff's office in Alabama told me that FL non-resident permits were fine.

I won't be going to church, and have no plans on going into government buildings, police stations, etc. It seems like the biggest concern will be restaurants.

My understanding is that carrying is okay in an Arkansas restaurant that serves alcohol. In Alabama, it sounds like the rules are up to the sheriff. In Tennessee and Kentucky carrying in a restaurant that serves is okay.

Mississippi, Missouri and Indiana are states we'll just be driving through, so I'm not concerned about restaurants. I don't drink, but I don't want to be stuck with Arby's for dinner.