See our Categories of Prohibited People policy summary for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.
Federal law prohibits certain persons from purchasing or possessing firearms, such as felons, certain domestic abusers, and certain people with a history of mental illness.
In addition, Mississippi incorporates some of the federal prohibitions as state offenses. Mississippi prohibits the possession of a firearm by any person convicted of a felony under federal law or the laws of any state.1 Mississippi also prohibits transferring to any person who is known to be intoxicated any of the following:
- A deadly weapon;
- A weapon the carrying of which concealed is prohibited; or
- A pistol cartridge.2
For information on the background check process used to enforce these provisions, see the Mississippi Background Checks section.