State SBR law

Are short-barreled rifles legal in Mississippi? (2026)

By Cole Harlan, EditorUpdated Oct 28, 2026How we verifyEditorial standards

We found no Mississippi law that bans owning a short-barreled rifle. What Mississippi does regulate is carrying one concealed: Miss. Code 97-37-1 lists "any rifle with a barrel of less than sixteen (16) inches in length" among the weapons you can't carry hidden on your person, with exceptions for your home, business, vehicle and sporting trips. Federal rules still apply, and this page covers both. Confirm with an attorney.

Not legal advice. This page summarizes the Mississippi Code, session laws and federal guidance as of the date above. Local rules and your own circumstances can matter. Check with your dealer or a Mississippi attorney if you're unsure.

The short answer

No possession offense found. We searched Title 97, Chapter 37 (97-37-1 to 97-37-39) and found no section that bans owning an SBR.
Concealed carry is restricted. 97-37-1(1) covers carrying a short-barrel rifle or shotgun "concealed on or about one's person."
Penalty for concealed carry: a first conviction is a $100 to $500 fine, up to six months in county jail, or both.
No state registration tie that we found. 97-37-1 doesn't refer to federal law.
Federal law still applies. See "Federal process in 2026" below.

The statute

Miss. Code 97-37-1(1) reads, in force today:

"Except as otherwise provided in Section 45-9-101, any person who carries, concealed on or about one's person, any bowie knife, dirk knife, butcher knife, switchblade knife, metallic knuckles, blackjack, slingshot, pistol, revolver, or any rifle with a barrel of less than sixteen (16) inches in length, or any shotgun with a barrel of less than eighteen (18) inches in length, machine gun or any fully automatic firearm or deadly weapon, or any muffler or silencer for any firearm, whether or not it is accompanied by a firearm, or uses or attempts to use against another person any imitation firearm, shall, upon conviction, be punished as follows:"

Two exceptions matter for most owners. Subsection (2) says it isn't a violation "for any person over the age of eighteen (18) years to carry a firearm or deadly weapon concealed within the confines of his own home or his place of business, or any real property associated with his home or business or within any motor vehicle." Subsection (3) covers anyone "engaged in a legitimate weapon-related sports activity or is going to or returning from such activity," which it defines as "hunting, fishing, target shooting or any other legal activity which normally involves the use of a firearm or other weapon."

Subsection (4) defines "concealed" as "hidden or obscured from common observation." It excludes a weapon carried in a sheath, holster, scabbard or case that is "wholly or partially visible."

How we verified this. We read 97-37-1 and 45-9-101 in the current Mississippi Code, the free public version LexisNexis publishes for the state, current with the 2026 Regular and First Extraordinary Sessions. The section's history ends with Laws 2023, ch. 461, which is House Bill 912 of 2023. HB 912 would strike "slingshot" and the silencer clause, but Section 7 delays that change until a U.S. Supreme Court ruling for Texas in Paxton v. Richardson or an Attorney General notice in the state's administrative bulletin. The current code prints the delayed version, and its SBR wording is identical to the text above. We took the text now in force, with "slingshot" and the silencer clause, from the Legislature's enrolled HB 912, which reprints the whole section. We found no notice that the delay has ended. Our search of the rest of Chapter 37 for a possession offense used Justia's unofficial copy.

How Mississippi defines an SBR

The statute doesn't define the term. 97-37-1(1) names "any rifle with a barrel of less than sixteen (16) inches in length" and "any shotgun with a barrel of less than eighteen (18) inches in length." It has no overall-length test. Federal law also counts a weapon made from a rifle with an overall length under 26 inches (26 U.S.C. 5845).

Penalty

For concealed carry under 97-37-1(1):

First conviction: a fine of $100 to $500, up to six months in the county jail, or both.
Second conviction: a fine of $100 to $500 and 30 days to six months in the county jail.
Third or later conviction: one to five years in the custody of the Department of Corrections.
A person previously convicted of any felony: one to ten years.

We found no penalty for simply owning an SBR.

Is legality tied to federal registration?

Not for SBRs, as far as we found. 97-37-1 doesn't mention federal law, and we found no other SBR section. That's different from Mississippi's suppressor section, 97-37-31, which turns on being "duly authorized under federal law." Per our suppressor guide, Attorney General Lynn Fitch said on October 12, 2026 that Form 4 "is voluntary for Mississippians as well," and that she'll seek to amend 97-37-1's silencer clause in 2027. Her statement covers suppressors, not SBRs.

ATF's October 9, 2026 open letter says it stopped enforcing Form 1 and Form 4 approval and registration for SBRs, SBSs, suppressors and AOWs. Voluntary forms are still processed. Our Mississippi suppressor guide has the full statement.

Hunting

SBR-specific hunting rules: Not yet verified. 97-37-1(3) lets you carry a weapon concealed while hunting or going to and from a hunt. Check the current Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks rules for legal firearms by species and season.

Other laws that interact

Machine gun conversion devices. 97-37-39, created by HB 903 of 2024, makes it a felony to manufacture, possess or use one if you're "not otherwise authorized by federal law." A first offense carries up to 10 years, a fine up to $10,000, or both.
Carry licenses don't cover rifles. 97-37-1 starts with "Except as otherwise provided in Section 45-9-101." That section lets a licensee "carry a stun gun, concealed pistol or concealed revolver," and its no-license rule in subsection (24) covers only a pistol or revolver. Neither mentions rifles or shotguns, so a license doesn't authorize carrying an SBR concealed. The home, vehicle and sporting exceptions in 97-37-1 still apply. Under 45-9-101(14)(b), the license rules don't apply to a weapon "that is not concealed as defined in Section 97-37-1."
Prohibited persons and minors: Not yet verified here.

Braced pistols

The state statutes cited here don't mention pistol braces. For the federal side, see our pistol brace guide.

Federal process in 2026

The making and transfer tax on SBRs has been $0 since January 1, 2026.
ATF stopped Form 1 and Form 4 enforcement on October 9. Voluntary forms are still processed. See NFA wait times.
Dealers use a Form 4473 and NICS check. ATF won't enforce 18 U.S.C. 922(b)(4) "Until final rules are issued."
"For now," interstate transport still needs an approved Form 20 (18 U.S.C. 922(a)(4)).
A dealer can't sell where state law forbids it (18 U.S.C. 922(b)(2)).

ATF says there is no automatic grandfathering if enforcement resumes. Full detail is on our SBR rules 2026 page, and you can compare states with the state NFA checker.

Checked against the current Mississippi Code (2026 Regular and First Extraordinary Sessions) and the Legislature's enrolled bills on October 28, 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Are short-barreled rifles legal in Mississippi?

We found no Mississippi law that bans owning one. Miss. Code 97-37-1 does make it a crime to carry a rifle with a barrel under 16 inches concealed on your person, with exceptions for your home, business, vehicle and sporting trips. Federal rules still apply.

Can I keep an SBR in my car in Mississippi?

97-37-1(2) says it isn't a violation for a person over 18 to carry a firearm concealed within any motor vehicle. Federal transport rules still apply if you cross state lines.

What is the penalty for carrying a concealed SBR in Mississippi?

A first conviction under 97-37-1 is a $100 to $500 fine, up to six months in county jail, or both. Penalties rise for repeat offenses, and a prior felon faces one to ten years.

Does Mississippi require NFA registration for an SBR?

We found no Mississippi requirement. 97-37-1 doesn't refer to federal law. The Attorney General's October 12, 2026 statement about Form 4 covers suppressors under a different section, 97-37-31.

Do I need a Form 20 to take an SBR out of Mississippi?

According to ATF's fact sheet, "For now," transporting an SBR across state lines still requires an approved Form 20. State law at your destination also applies.

Are short-barreled rifles legal in Mississippi? (2026)

The short answer

The statute

How Mississippi defines an SBR

Penalty

Is legality tied to federal registration?

Hunting

Other laws that interact

Braced pistols

Federal process in 2026

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Keep exploring

Are short-barreled rifles legal in Mississippi? (2026)

The short answer

The statute

How Mississippi defines an SBR

Penalty

Is legality tied to federal registration?

Hunting

Other laws that interact

Braced pistols

Federal process in 2026

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Keep exploring

The Gun Release Report