Mississippi has the weakest gun laws in the country and the highest gun death rate. Lawmakers must stop failing their communities and take action to save lives.
Mississippi passed a dangerous permitless carry law in 2016 which allows almost anyone to carry hidden, loaded guns in public without a background check or law enforcement oversight. In 2023, Mississippi had the highest gun death rate among the states. In an average year, 836 people die from gun violence in the state. That means someone dies from gun violence every 10 hours. Thirty-seven percent of those deaths are gun suicides, and 59% are gun homicides. In Mississippi, the rate of gun deaths increased 60% from 2014 to 2023, compared to a 33% increase nationwide.
What Mississippi Does Well
- Partial mental health record reporting
- Certain child access prevention laws
What Mississippi 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
- Open carry regulations
- Community violence intervention funding
SPOTLIGHT
GUN LAW SCORECARD
The data is clear: States with stronger gun laws have less gun violence. See how your state compares in our annual ranking.
Read MoreEXPLORE MISSISSIPPI’S GUN LAWS
WHO CAN HAVE A GUN
OWNER RESPONSIBILITIES
CHILD & CONSUMER SAFETY
GUNS IN PUBLIC
HARDWARE & AMMUNITION
OTHER LAWS & POLICIES
SUPPORT GUN SAFETY
We’re in this together. To build a safer America—one where children and parents in every neighborhood can learn, play, work, and worship without fear of gun violence—we need you standing beside us in this fight.
