Handgun laws in missouri

[Sentryau2]

Ok so I am 18 as of OCT and am possibly going to get a handgun for xmas (College soon so, its a weigh between a laptop and some other things or a handgun and a desktop)

Before I make a choice I want to know the laws of missouri for open carry. Would it be legal for me to carry a handgun I legally own? Whats the best way to do this, them giving me the money to buy the gun from a private individual or them buying a gun as a gift and giving it to me? I dont want to unintentionally commit a straw purchase. I would be picking out said handgun (was really hoping to find a lionheart lh9) If they can buy the gun I'm no longer limited to private dealers correct? The last thing I want to do is commit a felony

I am in Ripley county MO but the college is in Butler county Mo. Will be car pooling or using the bus till I can afford a vehicle.

 

[vamo]

It is perfectly legal for your parents to gift you a handgun. Buying ammo for yourself will also be difficult if it is in a traditional pistol caliber. I do not believe you are allowed to have a handgun on public transportation in MO.

 

[vamo]

I will add it does need to legitimately be a gift, not you giving them money to go get it for you. Not like you'd get caught during the above scenario, but still it would not be legal.

Forgot to mention in my first reply that there is no law in missouri about open carry. So there is no minimum age to carry openly, but localities can enact whatever laws they want.

 

[F-111 John]

http://handgunlaw.us/states/missouri.pdf

 

[Kuyong_Chuin]

Unless they have changed the laws since I lived there you can open carry a handgun unless there is a local ordnance against it. Example: I could open carry in the state or the county I lived in but if I went to town where the county seat is located they had a local ordnance that made it against the local law to carry a loaded handgun openly. You was fine if it was unloaded and you didn't have any ammo on your person. So do yourself a favor and check with the local sheriff's department as well as the city's chief of police in the jurisdiction where you will be carrying the handgun. Also I hope you will be living off campus since you will not be able to carry on campus anyway.

 

[Sentryau2]

@Vamo

I was meaning if they gave ME the money to buy a handgun for myself from another person.

 

[Sentryau2]

Where would the best place be to find out about the local laws? I'm hesistant to call the sheriff of my town or the sheriff of the city why the college is. I have no idea if they are pro gun or not or if they would give me an honest answer and not just what they feel like should be the law.

 

[NavyLCDR]

Where would the best place be to find out about the local laws?

The internet, of course. Google name of town + ordinances. Most municipal governments now have their ordinances and codes published online. City hall or the county courthouse probably has paper volumes available for you to read, as well as local public libraries, possibly.

I'm hesistant to call the sheriff of my town or the sheriff of the city why the college is. I have no idea if they are pro gun or not or if they would give me an honest answer and not just what they feel like should be the law.

Very wise.

buy the gun from a private dealer

"Private dealers" and "unlicensed dealers" are illegal. Any dealer in firearms is required by Federal law to have a Federal Firearms License. "Private" and "unlicensed" dealers is a term made up by the anti-gun groups in order to foster support for their uniform background check bills they want to make law.

If I have a car to sell, does that make me a dealer? No. It just makes me a Joe Citizen who has a car to sell. If I were going to be a car dealer, I would have to get all the required business and tax licenses.

 

[NavyLCDR]

Buying ammo for yourself will also be difficult if it is in a traditional pistol caliber. I do not believe you are allowed to have a handgun on public transportation in MO.

"traditional pistol caliber" has nothing to do with it. It is illegal for a person <21 years old to purchase ammo "for use in a handgun" from a Federally licensed dealer. It is just as illegal for an 18 year old to purchase (from an FFL) 30-30 rifle ammunition if they intend to use it in a Thompson Contender pistol as it is for them to purchase .45 ACP for use in a pistol. Conversely, it is perfectly legal for the 18 year old to purchase 9mm ammo from an FFL if the intended use is in a carbine rifle. That section of Federal law applies only to sales by/from FFLs.

The Federal age limit for possession and sales by anyone (licensed or not) of "ammunition that is suitable for use only in a handgun" is 18. Two entirely different sections of Federal law. Personally, I can't think of any ammunition that is not suitable for use in a carbine rifle or a Thompson Contender style rifle.

 

[Spats McGee]

Also, for finding ordinances: www.municode.com

 

[vamo]

"traditional pistol caliber" has nothing to do with it. It is illegal for a person <21 years old to purchase ammo "for use in a handgun" from a Federally licensed dealer. It is just as illegal for an 18 year old to purchase (from an FFL) 30-30 rifle ammunition if they intend to use it in a Thompson Contender pistol as it is for them to purchase .45 ACP for use in a pistol. Conversely, it is perfectly legal for the 18 year old to purchase 9mm ammo from an FFL if the intended use is in a carbine rifle. That section of Federal law applies only to sales by/from FFLs.

True but most stores react by making 9mm/45/380 etc. over 21.

 

[Midwest]

Regarding the federal requirement to be 21 to buy handgun ammo from a dealer with a FFL.
(Unless the ammo can also be used in a long gun too.)

But what if the store doesn't have an FFL, are they still restricted from selling handgun ammo to those under 21? Can a store without a FFL sell .38 spl ammo to those under 21?

At one time there was a requirement to have a FFL to sell ammo, but that was repealed in 1986.

 

[Sentryau2]

Will edit to fix, I did not mean private "dealer" I was meaning from an individual selling a privately owned firearm.

I've googled for around 3 hours all together and I'm finding nothing, its very frustrating. I've checked opencarry.org and on municode.com and still absolutely nothing. How can they expect people to know their laws/ordinances when its almost impossible to find them? Poplar Bluff Mo is where the college is (I know its a no on carrying inside or on the property)

 

[ldlfh7]

It is legal to open carry in Missouri but be ready to be constantly harassed by law enforcement.

 

[F-111 John]

Also keep in mind that if you're going off to college and are living on campus or in campus owned apartments, you'll most likely not be able to keep firearms in your room. You will probably have to store them with the campus police, and check them out to go shooting.

 

[Zeeemu]

Outside of hunting season in the woods, an 18 year old male seen open carrying or wearing a hand gun, particularly in a public place, is a recipe for nothing but trouble and grief, maybe even loss of life if you happen to encounter the wrong cop. Best not to go there.

 

[Sentryau2]

I will be staying with a friend who lives near the college or at home and just making the trip back and forth each day.

 

[NavyLCDR]

Outside of hunting season in the woods, an 18 year old male seen open carrying or wearing a hand gun, particularly in a public place, is a recipe for nothing but trouble and grief, maybe even loss of life if you happen to encounter the wrong cop. Best not to go there.

So a person should refrain from perfectly legal self-protection just because a cop might have a problem with it? REALLY? I thought this country still resembled America a little bit in some places.

 

[Zeeemu]

"I thought this country still resembled America a little bit in some places."

Perhaps it still does, a little bit, in some places. Unfortunately, I've never lived in those places and the states I have lived in, including Missouri, only resemble mythical 'America' in superficial ways. Sorry to burst anyone's bubble but present day America is far different than it was just 50 years ago.

 

[HB]

As a current college student, I say get the laptop! You will use it a lot more.

When I lived in the dorms I had to check my guns in at the Department of Public Safety on campus. At one point I had a couple handguns in their safe then they realized I wasn't 21. After they looked into it (and my providing a copy of the youth handgun act) they OK'd the guns they had already checked in and out to me!

Be aware that law enforcement rarely know the law as it is written. However, in Missouri there shouldn't ever be an issue so long as you use your handgun responsibly. In this case I wouldn't recommend walking around with a gun on your hip unless you're out in the woods. It will likely be more trouble than its worth. Also look into getting a small safe. College means interaction with many people you will likely never see again and be it cash, handgun, or a laptop, people will steal your stuff.

HB

 

[Sentryau2]

I wont be living near the college at all, most likely ill be staying with a friend or just making the trip back and forth, less than ideal but it will work. Id get a ride up to my friends house and then walk to the college seeing as id be taking afternoon classes (a couple blocks) but around those areas its a bit nasty (The city is like wanna be gang bangers play ground)


Guess I'll have to call the sheriff/police department or court house to find out an exact answer.

It will probably be moot anyway, talking with my family and they also seem to agree a laptop would be a better choice. Man I wish the CCW was 18

 

[NavyLCDR]

It is legal to open carry in Missouri but be ready to be constantly harassed by law enforcement.

Outside of hunting season in the woods, an 18 year old male seen open carrying or wearing a hand gun, particularly in a public place, is a recipe for nothing but trouble and grief, maybe even loss of life if you happen to encounter the wrong cop. Best not to go there.

In this case I wouldn't recommend walking around with a gun on your hip unless you're out in the woods. It will likely be more trouble than its worth.

Makes me very happy to live in Washington State. We just don't have those problems with open carry here, not even in downtown Seattle or SEATAC Airport! I'm just curious - are these comments from people who have first hand knowledge who have open carried for any length of time before? Or is it just conjecture on the part of people who have never done it?

 

[Kleanbore]

Posted by ldlfh7: It is legal to open carry in Missouri but be ready to be constantly harassed by law enforcement.

Lest anyone be misled, it is legal to carry openly in some areas in Missouri, but not in others. The state preemption law does not apply to open carry.