1. law, govt and politics

About This Guide
F
irst and foremost, this guide is currently a quick reference guide to
obtaining your concealed carry license in Missouri. It is not an
extensive list of everything CCW-related and is NOT a substitute for
professional legal advice. If you’re looking to get your concealed carry
firearms permit, then this guide will help you get started.
Please note that this is version 1.0 of the Missouri Concealed Carry Guide
and we’re looking to add to it as 2015 progresses. If you have a topic you
think should be included in future versions of the guide or any other
firearms-related question, please contact us and we’ll do our best to help
you out. - Email: info@MissouriFirearmsNetwork.com
Terms of Use / Disclaimer
This guide is designed to provide the author’s belief’s and opinions in regard to the subject matter covered, with the understanding
that neither the authors nor the publishers are engaged in rendering professional psychological, legal, political, or firearm instructional
services through the dissemination of this publication. This guide, along with Missouri Firearms Network, is not associated with the
State of Missouri, a sheriff’s office or highway patrol.
If you require expert assistance, instruction, counseling or advice, you should seek the services of a competent professional.
Missouri Firearms Network (MFN) is not responsible for mishaps of any kind which may occur from use of published firearms
information, equipment recommendations, tactics and training advice, or recommendations by staff or contributing writers. Handling &
carrying a firearm, especially concealed, can be very dangerous, particularly if you are not well trained and familiar with the weapon;
therefore, you should consult with an attorney before making the decision to purchase and carry a weapon. It is your responsibility as
an armed citizen to decide how much training you need.
Copyright © 2015, Missouri Firearms Network. All Rights Reserved.
Missouri Firearms Network is owned and operated by 417 Solutions, LLC.
Missouri Firearms Network
www.MissouriFirearmsNetwork.com
Should You Carry A Concealed Weapon?
T
he choice to obtain a concealed carry permit should not be taken lightly. Just because you can
get the training and a certificate doesn’t mean that you should carry a firearm. The first thing I
would ask to anyone who is thinking about getting a CCW is WHY? There are those who can
answer this question right and there are those who answer it wrong.
Here are some examples of wrong answers as to why you want to carry conceal a firearm:
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So that I can carry a gun with me everywhere.
Someone keeps steeling things from my car, so if I ever catch him…
My friend has one, so I figured I better get one also.
If I get one now, the government can’t take it away from me.
Here are a very select few of the correct answers as to why you should want to carry a concealed
firearm:
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I love family and want to protect them however I can.
I value my life and don’t want to be a victim if my life is ever threatened.
H
ow you personally answered the reason why you’d be carrying a firearm should determine if
you should. The other thing to think about ahead of time is if you’d be able to pull the trigger if
the time came to defend the life of you or a loved one. Naturally, you may hesitate at saying a
straight YES to that question, but so long as your answer isn’t a definite NO, training can help you
overcome any hesitation as you learn how to assess a situation and know whether it’s lifethreatening.
Where You Can NOT Carry Concealed
D
on’t go into getting a CCW thinking you can just carry wherever you want. There are plenty of
restrictions that you need to be away of to keep yourself on the legal side of things.
Even if you have a concealed carry permit, you may NOT carry a concealed weapon in the following
places: • any police, sheriff, or highway patrol office or station without consent • within 25 feet of any
polling place on election day • adult of juvenile jail or institution • courthouse of facilities • any
meeting of a government body • bar without consent • airport • where prohibited by federal law •
schools • child care facility (without consent of manager) • riverboat gambling facility • amusement
parks • any church or place of worship without permission of minister of person representing
religious organization • any sports arena or stadium with seating for more than 5,000 • hospitals •
private or public property where posted.
Missouri Firearms Network
www.MissouriFirearmsNetwork.com
The Firearms Safety Course
A
Missouri resident must be at least 19
years old to apply for a concealed carry
permit. If you wish to obtain a concealed
weapon permit you must first complete a
firearms safety course of at least eight hours
in length that includes:
(1) Handgun safety in the classroom, at home,
on the firing range and while carrying the
firearm; (2) A physical demonstration
performed by the applicant that demonstrated
his or her ability to safely load and unload
either a revolver or a semiautomatic pistol and
demonstrated his or her marksmanship with
either firearm; (3) The basic principles of
marksmanship; (4) Care and cleaning of
concealable firearms; (5) Safe storage of
firearms at home; (6) The requirements of this
state for obtaining a concealed carry permit
from the sheriff of the individual's county of
residence; (7) The laws relating to firearms as
prescribed in this chapter; (8) The laws
relating to the justifiable use of force as
prescribed in chapter 563; (9) A live firing
exercise of sufficient duration for each
applicant to fire either a
revolver or a semiautomatic
pistol, from a standing position
or its equivalent, a minimum of
twenty rounds from the
handgun at a distance
of seven yards from a
B-27 silhouette target
or an equivalent target;
(10) A live-fire test
administered to the
applicant while the
instructor was present
of twenty rounds from
either a revolver or a
semiautomatic pistol
from a standing position
or its equivalent at a
distance from a B-27 silhouette target, or an
equivalent target, of seven yards.
For more details, please read Missouri
Revised Statutes Section 571.101 and
571.111
Finding The Right CCW Instructor
While you may think the end result is to just
get a passing certificate, the way in which an
instructor conducts classes determines what
knowledge you’ll take out of the class.
Sorry to say this, but some instructors seem
only in the business of making some money
on the side. The trick is to find an instructor
that truly cares about teaching you about your
personal safety, not just what the law says
you can and can not do. There are many
Missouri Firearms Network
shady instructors out there offering 4-hour
classes; but don’t let them fool you. Read the
MO Statutes yourself and you’ll see they’re
not abiding by the law themselves. Do you
really want those kind of people instructing
you?
Missouri Firearms Network is in the process
of gathering some of the top CCW instructors’
names and will be posting a comprehensive
listing on the website later in 2015.
www.MissouriFirearmsNetwork.com
Applying At the Sheriff’s Office
O
nce the firearms safety course is
completed, the next step is to apply for
the permit at your local sheriff’s office. You
must present a copy of the firearms training
course certificate, complete an application,
and pay a non-refundable fee which varies
depending on the county you are a resident
of. You must apply in the county in which you
reside. You will sign a sworn statement that
verifies you:
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meet the age requirement
are a citizen or permanent resident of the
US
have assumed residency in Missouri, or
are an armed forces member or spouse
stationed in Missouri
have not been convicted, or pled guilty or
nolo contender to any felony
have no weapons-related misdemeanor
convictions
have not been convicted with the past five
years of a violent misdemeanor
have not been convicted of two or more
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misdemeanors involving DWI or
possession or abuse of a controlled
substance within the past five year
are not a fugitive
are not currently charged with a felony
have not been dishonorably discharged
from the armed forces
have not been adjudged mentally
incompetent within the past five years
have received the required firearms safety
training
are not the respondent of a valid full order
of protection
You will most likely also be fingerprinted when
applying as well. As of August 28, 2013, the
Department of Revenue no longer issues or
renews CCW endorsements; that authority
now rests with the local sheriff’s office; so
there will be no need to go to the license
office to receive your permit as in years past.
The sheriff’s office will be your one-stop-shop
after you get your firearms training certificate.
Continued Training Options
One mistake a lot of people make after they
get their concealed carry license is they think
they’re all done and don’t continue to train and
hone their shooting skills. Marksmanship can
be a perishable skill if not continually
practiced!
Continued training can make the different
between life and death when seconds really
do count one day. A good class to start with
Missouri Firearms Network
would be Home
Defense Handgun
Training. Every class is different, but
basically you’ll learn how to use a handgun in
the close quarters of your home, the
difference between cover and concealment,
and how to properly “slice the pie”. After that,
you can move into a more street-style
handgun training session and they some
advanced handgun maneuvers. Consider
each class just one more tool in your arsenal
of defensive options.
www.MissouriFirearmsNetwork.com
Got More Questions?
This guide is a work in progress. For more information
about carrying a concealed firearm in Missouri, we
invite you to visit us online and join our community of
firearm enthusiasts at:
www.MissouriFirearmsNetwork.com
Missouri Firearms Network
www.MissouriFirearmsNetwork.com