STATE
MISSOURI GUN LAWS
Missouri has appallingly weak gun laws and one of the country’s highest gun death rates. Lawmakers owe it to residents to start putting the safety of their communities first.
Scorecard Grade
Since 2017, the state has allowed people to carry concealed, loaded firearms in public without a background check or permit. In 2021, Missouri enacted the so-called “Second Amendment Preservation Act (SAPA)” which purports to impose fines on local and state law enforcement officers for enforcing federal gun laws.1 SAPA has been found unconstitutional.
In 2024, Missouri had the tenth highest gun death rate among the states. In an average year, 1,377 people die from gun violence in the state. That means someone dies from gun violence every six hours. Fifty-four percent of those deaths are gun suicides, and 42% are gun homicides. In Missouri, the rate of gun deaths increased 8% from 2015 to 2024, compared to a 15% increase nationwide.
EXPLORE MISSOURI’S GUN LAWS
OWNER RESPONSIBILITIES
CHILD & CONSUMER SAFETY
OTHER LAWS & POLICIES
What Missouri Does Well
- Partial open carry regulations
- Certain child access prevention laws
What Missouri Is Missing
- Universal background checks
- Gun owner licensing
- Extreme risk protection orders
- Domestic violence gun laws
- Assault weapon restrictions
- Large capacity magazine ban
- Waiting periods
- Concealed carry permit
- Community violence intervention funding
SPOTLIGHT
GUN VIOLENCE STATISTICS
Explore facts, figures, and original analysis compiled by our experts. To end our gun violence crisis, we need to better understand where, how, and why violence occurs.
Learn More
JOIN THE FIGHT
Nearly 47,000 Americans lose their lives to gun violence every year. In communities, courts, and ballot boxes nationwide, GIFFORDS fights to save lives from gun violence. Will you join us?
- Mo. Rev. Stat. § 1.410 et. seq.[↩]