Permitless Purse/Man Bag Carry Legal on July 1, 2015
SB2394 becomes law on July 1, 2015. What does this do? It allows for you to carry a pistol or revolver in a "a purse, handbag, satchel, other similar bag or briefcase or fully enclosed case." So on July 1, 2015, you will not need a permit to carry a pistol or revolver in your purse or, if you are male, a man bag. I've found that Maxpedition makes great manbags (murse?) and they have a place for a pistol or revolver. Check them out here: http://www.maxpedition.com/store/pc/FATBOY-VERSIPACK-p31.htm
Now, before you carry everywhere in your purse, keep in mind there are still prohibited places and you should still be mindful of posted property. A good rule of thumb (since this is a hybrid of concealed and open carry, i.e. no permit required but it's still concealed) is to not carry anywhere that concealed carry is disallowed. Those places where concealed carry is prohibited are found in Miss. Code Ann. s. 45-9-101(13):
any place of nuisance as defined in Section 95-3-1, Mississippi Code of 1972; any police, sheriff or highway patrol station; any detention facility, prison or jail; any courthouse; any courtroom, except that nothing in this section shall preclude a judge from carrying a concealed weapon or determining who will carry a concealed weapon in his courtroom; any polling place; any meeting place of the governing body of any governmental entity; any meeting of the Legislature or a committee thereof; any school, college or professional athletic event not related to firearms; any portion of an establishment, licensed to dispense alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises, that is primarily devoted to dispensing alcoholic beverages; any portion of an establishment in which beer or light wine is consumed on the premises, that is primarily devoted to such purpose; any elementary or secondary school facility; any junior college, community college, college or university facility unless for the purpose of participating in any authorized firearms-related activity; inside the passenger terminal of any airport, except that no person shall be prohibited from carrying any legal firearm into the terminal if the firearm is encased for shipment, for purposes of checking such firearm as baggage to be lawfully transported on any aircraft; any church or other place of worship; or any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law. In addition to the places enumerated in this subsection, the carrying of a stun gun, concealed pistol or revolver may be disallowed in any place in the discretion of the person or entity exercising control over the physical location of such place by the placing of a written notice clearly readable at a distance of not less than ten (10) feet that the "carrying of a pistol or revolver is prohibited."
The text of SB2394 is here: