How to Buy a Gun in Missouri

Licensed Dealers

Find a licensed dealer that offers the type of gun you want. Retail firearms stores all have federal licenses, as do many other dealers who sell guns for a living, even if they don't have a brick-and-mortar shop. Search online to find the gun stores nearest you. If you're looking for a particular specialty gun, you might want to call ahead and see if the store has it in stock before making the trip.

Fill out a background check application when you pick out a gun. The background check application requires both you and the dealer to provide information. For your part, enter identification information that matches the information on the valid, government-issued photo ID you present to the dealer to buy your gun. You'll also need to answer a series of questions about your criminal background. When you sign and date the application, you're certifying that you answered those questions honestly. Lying on the form is a felony under federal law. Although you can download the form online and print it out to look at it, you can't fill it out in advance. You'll need to fill it out and sign it in the dealer's presence.

Get back the results from your background check. Usually, you'll get the results of your background check back instantly. In some situations, it might take longer. The dealer will tell you the results and whether you need to wait for a final decision. The service is available by phone 17 hours a day, 7 days a week. There's also an electronic service that's available 24/7. If your background check comes back "delayed," you'll typically find out the result within 3 business days. If it's denied, you can challenge it or file an appeal. Typically, the only reason it would be denied would be if you had been convicted of a felony. However, it's possible for a mistake to be made if your name and identification information are similar to someone else's.

Buy your gun and take it home. Under Missouri law, if you pass the background check, the licensed dealer has to sell the gun to you — they can't just suddenly change their mind and decide they don't want to sell you a gun because they don't like something you said or the shirt you're wearing. After paying for the gun, you're free to take it home with you. There's no waiting period for buying any kind of firearm, which means you can take it home as soon as you complete the purchase. You'll need your own car to take your gun home — you can't bring it on public transportation. However, there's no reason you couldn't have a friend or family member drive you, or even use a rideshare.

Private Sellers

Find a private seller with a gun you want to buy. Private sellers are often at gun shows or flea markets. You can also search classified listings online or in your local newspaper to find people selling guns. Missouri doesn't have any laws regulating gun shows, so those are generally good places to find private sellers.

Pay the private seller for the gun. Private sellers aren't required to conduct a background check before selling you a gun, so all you have to do is pay them their asking price. Different private sellers may accept different methods of payment. It's a good idea to get a bill of sale to memorialize the transaction. Since Missouri doesn't require you to register the gun, that's the only way you can prove ownership.

Take your firearm home. Since there's no waiting period in Missouri after you purchase a gun, you can take it home as soon as the transaction is complete. Since you can't bring guns on public transportation, you'll usually need to be driving your own car. You could also get a ride from a friend or family member. Missouri also doesn't require a separate permit to carry a concealed weapon, so you can generally store it anywhere in your car as long as you're 19 years old or older. If you're 18, you can buy the gun, but you would need to carry it in your car exposed. Generally, it's a good idea to make sure your gun isn't loaded while you transport it.

Concealed Carry Permit

Choose a concealed carry permit if you travel to other states. As of 2020, Missouri doesn't require a concealed carry permit. If you are 19 (or 18 and in the military) and otherwise permitted to own a gun, you can carry that gun concealed. However, you might want a permit if you frequently travel to other states and want to carry your weapon concealed while there. Most states in the US recognize Missouri's concealed carry permit. Of the states that border Missouri, only Illinois doesn't recognize Missouri's concealed carry permit.

Take a firearm safety training course. To get a concealed carry permit, you need to complete a course conducted by an instructor certified by the National Rifle Association (NRA) that is at least 1 hour long. You can take your course in person or online. Most gun stores have information about courses available in your area. You can also check at a local shooting range. The course covers basic safety techniques and Missouri's laws relating to firearms. You also need to complete a live-fire test in person. If you don't complete the NRA course, you can take any other firearm safety course that's at least 8 hours in length.

Contact the sheriff's office in the county where you live. Depending on the size of your county sheriff's office, you might need to make an appointment to come in and apply for your concealed carry permit. A deputy might also be able to tell you the days of the week or weeks of the month that tend to be busier than others so you can plan accordingly. You'll have to pay a $90 fee for your concealed carry permit, so ask the deputy what methods of payment they accept. Some sheriff's departments recommend that you call at least 3 months in advance due to high demand for appointments and limited hours.

Complete the permit application. Most sheriff's offices have a digital copy of the form available for download from their website. It'll save you some time to print that form and fill it out in advance, but you can also get a copy at the sheriff's office and fill it out while you're there. The form requires you to provide similar information as you did when you completed the background check, if you bought your gun from a licensed dealer. You also have to answer questions about your residency and criminal background.

Submit your application and fees. As of 2020, the total fees for a concealed carry permit are $90, which includes processing and fingerprint fees. Go to the sheriff's office in person to apply for your concealed carry permit. They'll take your fingerprints when you submit your application. The sheriff's deputy will look over your application and let you know if there are any issues that would cause you to be ineligible for a permit.

Wait to receive your permit. Missouri is a "shall issue" state, which means you'll get a concealed carry permit provided you're eligible to own a firearm. Typically, you'll get your permit in the mail within 3 days of the date you applied. If you still haven't gotten your permit after a week, you might want to call the sheriff's office and let them know. They can check the status of your permit.

Carry your gun concealed only in permitted places. You can carry a concealed firearm nearly anywhere in Missouri, with a few exceptions. However, even if you're in a place where concealed weapons aren't permitted, you can still carry a concealed weapon if you own or lease the property, if the firearm isn't readily accessible, or if you're hunting and also have an exposed firearm. Do not take a concealed weapon into any of the following places: A church or place of worship Any election precinct on election day Any federal, state, or local government building Any school bus or location of a school function