Can a Mississippi school board ban people with enhanced concealed-carry permits from bringing firearms to school athletic events, especially when the high school activities association says they have to?

Plain-English summary

The Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) has a rule that prohibits firearms at school athletic events, with no carve-out for enhanced-carry permit holders. The MHSAA had been telling member school districts that they must enforce the no-firearms rule against everyone, including enhanced permittees, and that violators could be disciplined or fined. The Tate County School Board, the local district whose attorney requested this opinion, did not think the MHSAA's position lined up with state law and asked the AG.

The AG agreed with the school board. Section 97-37-7(2) authorizes Mississippi's enhanced concealed-carry permittees to carry weapons in courthouses (except courtrooms during proceedings) and "any location listed in subsection (13) of [Section] 45-9-101." That subsection 13 list includes "any elementary or secondary school facility" and "any school, college or professional athletic event not related to firearms." Outside the narrow exclusions written into the statute itself (places of nuisance under Section 95-3-1, police/sheriff/highway patrol stations, and detention facilities), enhanced permittees can carry concealed at school athletic events.

The AG had reached the same conclusion in 2013 (Cantrell), and the 2026 opinion explicitly affirms it: "the school district may not bar enhanced permit holders with concealed pistols and revolvers from entry into a school facility or school athletic event to which the general public is otherwise normally permitted." The MHSAA's argument that ticketed athletic events are not "to which the general public is otherwise normally permitted" was rejected.

On the second question (whether MHSAA could legally discipline or sue districts that allow enhanced carry), the AG declined to answer because the MHSAA is not a public officer or body the AG opinion statute (Section 7-5-25) covers. But the AG dropped a strong hint: Mississippi Supreme Court precedent treats the MHSAA membership form as a contract (R.T. v. MHSAA, 2015), and Plaza Amusement Co. v. Rothenberg (1930) holds that "if an illegal condition be annexed to a contract, it will not void the whole contract, but the illegal part will be treated as void." So a contract clause requiring a district to bar enhanced permittees in violation of state law would likely be unenforceable.

So the opinion squarely answers the first question (the school-board policy would be unlawful) while declining the second, attaching only a general note about how Mississippi courts treat illegal contract conditions.

What this means for you

School board members and superintendents

The opinion holds it is not lawful for a school board to enact a policy barring a member of the public with an enhanced carry permit from bringing a concealed firearm to athletic events on school grounds. It reaffirms the Cantrell opinion that a district "may not bar enhanced permit holders with concealed pistols and revolvers from entry into a school facility or school athletic event to which the general public is otherwise normally permitted." The opinion's authority extends only to enhanced permittees; Section 45-9-101(13) still governs ordinary concealed-carry holders, and Section 97-37-7(2) keeps its own exclusions (places of nuisance under Section 95-3-1, police/sheriff/highway patrol stations, and detention facilities).

Enhanced concealed-carry permit holders attending a school athletic event

Under the opinion, Section 97-37-7(2) authorizes enhanced permittees to carry in the locations listed in Section 45-9-101(13), which include "any elementary or secondary school facility" and "any school, college or professional athletic event not related to firearms," subject to the statutory exclusions. The opinion rejects the reading that a ticketed athletic event is not an event "to which the general public is otherwise normally permitted."

School athletic directors

The opinion distinguishes enhanced permittees, who may not be barred, from ordinary concealed-carry holders, who remain subject to the Section 45-9-101(13) school prohibitions. Events "related to firearms" are outside the enhanced-carry authorization.

MHSAA administrators

The opinion expressly declines to answer whether the MHSAA may discipline, fine, or sue districts, because Section 7-5-25 limits AG opinions to questions of law relating to the offices of public officials and bodies, and the MHSAA is not such a body. For informational purposes only, the opinion notes the Mississippi Supreme Court has treated the MHSAA membership form as a contract (R.T., 2015) and has held that an illegal condition annexed to a contract is treated as void (Plaza Amusement, 1930).

School district attorneys

The opinion answers the first question (a board policy barring enhanced permittees is unlawful) and declines the second (MHSAA's enforcement authority) as outside the AG's opinion authority, offering only the informational contract-law note above.

Common questions

Q: What is "enhanced carry" in Mississippi?
A: An enhanced concealed-carry permit is issued to a Mississippi concealed-carry licensee who has additionally completed an instructional course in safe firearm handling from a certified instructor, or who is a current/veteran member of the U.S. Armed Forces with relevant pistol training, or who is an honorably retired law enforcement officer. Enhanced permittees can carry in a longer list of locations than ordinary permittees, including courthouses (outside courtrooms in session), school facilities, and school athletic events.

Q: Can enhanced permittees carry at every school event?
A: Most public events. The statute excludes "place[s] of nuisance" (Section 95-3-1), police/sheriff/highway patrol stations, and detention facilities, prisons, or jails. Section 45-9-101(13) also excludes events specifically "related to firearms" (e.g., a school rifle competition).

Q: Why did MHSAA think ticketed athletic events were exempt?
A: MHSAA relied on the AG's 2013 Cantrell opinion to argue that a ticketed event is not "to which the general public is otherwise normally permitted." The 2026 opinion expressly rejects that reading. A ticketed public athletic event is a public event for purposes of the enhanced-carry statute.

Q: What about ordinary (non-enhanced) concealed-carry permits?
A: Section 45-9-101(13) still prohibits ordinary concealed-carry holders from bringing firearms into school facilities or athletic events. The override is only for enhanced permittees.

Q: Can the MHSAA fine a district for letting enhanced permittees in?
A: The opinion declines to answer because the MHSAA is not a public body the AG opinion statute (Section 7-5-25) covers. For informational purposes only, it notes that Mississippi courts treat the MHSAA membership form as a contract (R.T., 2015) and treat an illegal condition annexed to a contract as void (Plaza Amusement, 1930). The opinion does not itself rule on whether any MHSAA penalty would be enforceable.

Q: Does this affect college sports?
A: The statute's text covers school, college, and professional athletic events. The same enhanced-carry rule applies. College athletic events run by NCAA member institutions are subject to NCAA rules, but the state-law floor is the same: enhanced permittees cannot be barred under Section 97-37-7(2) and Section 45-9-101(13).

Background and statutory framework

Mississippi has a layered firearms regulatory regime. Section 45-9-101 is the basic concealed-carry license statute. Subsection 13 sets the default no-go zones for ordinary concealed-carry holders, including "any elementary or secondary school facility" and "any school, college or professional athletic event not related to firearms." For ordinary permittees, those locations remain off-limits.

Section 97-37-7(2) creates the enhanced-carry track. By completing additional training, by being a current or veteran member of the U.S. Armed Forces with relevant training, or by being an honorably retired law enforcement officer, a permittee gains expanded carry authority. The expansion is statutory: enhanced permittees are "authorized to carry weapons in courthouses except in courtrooms during a judicial proceeding, and any location listed in subsection (13) of Section 45-9-101, except any place of nuisance as defined in Section 95-3-1, any police, sheriff or highway patrol station or any detention facility, prison or jail."

The structure means that locations Section 45-9-101(13) excludes for ordinary permits become carry-permitted for enhanced permits. School athletic events are one of those flipped categories.

The MHSAA is a private nonprofit corporation that regulates Mississippi public-school athletics. School districts join the MHSAA by signing a membership form, which the Mississippi Supreme Court in R.T. ex rel. Trail (2015) characterized as a contract. MHSAA rules thus operate as private contractual obligations between districts and the association.

That contractual nature is critical to the 2026 opinion. State law is the higher authority; private contracts cannot require parties to violate state law. Plaza Amusement Co. v. Rothenberg, 131 So. 350 (Miss. 1930), held that an illegal condition annexed to a contract is treated as void without invalidating the whole contract. Applied here, the MHSAA's no-firearms-for-enhanced-permittees rule is the kind of illegal condition that would not be enforceable.

The AG's office had already addressed this in MS AG Op., Cantrell (Oct. 1, 2013). The 2026 Lamar opinion reaffirms Cantrell explicitly: "we opined in Cantrell that 'the school district may not bar enhanced permit holders with concealed pistols and revolvers from entry into a school facility or school athletic event to which the general public is otherwise normally permitted.' . . . This remains the opinion of our office."

Citations and references

Statutes:

• Miss. Code Ann. § 7-5-25 (AG opinion authority)
• Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-301 (school board powers)
• Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-101 (concealed-carry license; subsection 13 default no-go zones)
• Miss. Code Ann. § 95-3-1 (places of nuisance)
• Miss. Code Ann. § 97-37-7(2) (enhanced concealed carry)

Cases:

• Plaza Amusement Co. v. Rothenberg, 131 So. 350 (Miss. 1930) (illegal contract conditions are void)
• Mississippi High Sch. Activities Ass'n, Inc. v. R.T. ex rel. Trail, 163 So. 3d 274 (Miss. 2015) (MHSAA membership form is a contract)

Prior AG opinions referenced:

• MS AG Op., Cantrell (Oct. 1, 2013) (school district may not bar enhanced permit holders from facilities or athletic events open to the public)

Source

• Landing page: https://attorneygenerallynnfitch.com/divisions/opinions-and-policy/recent-opinions/
• Original PDF: https://attorneygenerallynnfitch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/J.-Lamar-January-7-2026-Enhanced-Carry-at-Athletic-Events-on-School-Grounds.pdf

Original opinion text

January 7, 2026

John T. Lamar, Esq.
Attorney, Tate County School Board
214 South Ward Street
Senatobia, Mississippi 38668

Re: Enhanced Carry at Athletic Events on School Grounds

Dear Mr. Lamar:

The Office of the Attorney General has received your request for an official opinion.

Background

According to your request, the Mississippi High School Activities Association ("MHSAA") has a rule in place that specifically prohibits firearms at athletic events. The rule allows the MHSAA to discipline and penalize school districts that violate the rule, and there is no exception to the rule for members of the public with enhanced carry permits. The MHSAA has taken the position that banning members of the public with enhanced carry permits from bringing concealed firearms into athletic events on school grounds is lawful by relying on MS AG Op., Cantrell (Oct. 1, 2013) and stating that an athletic event on school property requiring a ticket is not an event "to which the general public is otherwise normally permitted." As such, the Tate County School Board requests clarification from this office.

Questions Presented

1. Is it lawful for a school board to enact a policy that would prohibit a member of the public with an enhanced carry permit from bringing a concealed firearm to athletic events on school grounds?

2. If such policy is not lawful, does the MHSAA have legal authority to impose any discipline or fine on, or initiate litigation against, any school board who allows a member of the public with an enhanced carry permit to bring a concealed firearm to athletic events on school grounds?

Brief Response

1. No. As noted in MS AG Op., Cantrell at *4, "the legislature has expressly stated in [S]ection 97-37-7(2) that an enhanced permit holder 'shall also be authorized to carry weapons in . . . any location listed in subsection (13) of [S]ection 45-9-101.'" Such locations include "any elementary or secondary school facility" and "any school, college or professional athletic event not related to firearms." Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-101(13).

2. Mississippi Code Annotated Section 7-5-25 authorizes the Attorney General to issue official opinions to various public officials and bodies "upon any question of law relating to their respective offices." We are unable to respond to your question regarding the MHSAA's authority.

Applicable Law and Discussion

You first ask if it is lawful for a school board to enact a policy that would prohibit a member of the public with an enhanced carry permit from bringing a concealed firearm to athletic events on school grounds.

Pursuant to Section 37-7-301(l):

The school boards of all school districts shall have the following powers, authority and duties in addition to all others imposed or granted by law, to wit: . . . [t]o prescribe and enforce rules and regulations not inconsistent with law or with the regulations of the State Board of Education for their own government and for the government of the schools, and to transact their business at regular and special meetings called and held in the manner provided by law.

(emphasis added).

And Section 97-37-7(2), regarding enhanced carry, provides:

A person licensed under Section 45-9-101 to carry a concealed pistol, who (a) has voluntarily completed an instructional course in the safe handling and use of firearms offered by an instructor certified by a nationally recognized organization that customarily offers firearms training, or by any other organization approved by the Department of Public Safety, (b) is a member or veteran of any active or reserve component branch of the United States of America Armed Forces having completed law enforcement or combat training with pistols or other handguns as recognized by such branch after submitting an affidavit attesting to have read, understand and agree to comply with all provisions of the enhanced carry law, or (c) is an honorably retired law enforcement officer or honorably retired member or veteran of any active or reserve component branch of the United States of America Armed Forces having completed law enforcement or combat training with pistols or other handguns, after submitting an affidavit attesting to have read, understand and agree to comply with all provisions of Mississippi enhanced carry law shall also be authorized to carry weapons in courthouses except in courtrooms during a judicial proceeding, and any location listed in subsection (13) of Section 45-9-101, except any place of nuisance as defined in Section 95-3-1, any police, sheriff or highway patrol station or any detention facility, prison or jail.

(emphasis added).

In sum, as provided in MS AG Op., Cantrell at 4, "the legislature has expressly stated in [S]ection 97-37-7(2) that an enhanced permit holder 'shall also be authorized to carry weapons in . . . any location listed in subsection (13) of [S]ection 45-9-101.'" Such locations include "any elementary or secondary school facility" and "any school, college or professional athletic event not related to firearms." Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-101(13). Accordingly, we opined in Cantrell that "the school district may not bar enhanced permit holders with concealed pistols and revolvers from entry into a school facility or school athletic event to which the general public is otherwise normally permitted." Cantrell at 4. This remains the opinion of our office.

Finally, Section 7-5-25 authorizes the Attorney General to issue official opinions to various public officials and bodies "upon any question of law relating to their respective offices." Accordingly, we are unable to respond to your second question regarding the MHSAA's authority. However, for informational purposes, we note that the Mississippi Supreme Court has stated that contractual provisions violating state law are treated as void. See Plaza Amusement Co. v. Rothenberg, 131 So. 350, 357 (Miss. 1930) ("If an illegal condition be annexed to a contract, it will not void the whole contract, but the illegal part will be treated as void."); and see Miss. High Sch. Activities Ass'n, Inc. v. R.T. ex rel. Trail, 163 So. 3d 274, 275 n.1 (Miss. 2015) (explaining annual membership form between school and MHSAA is a contract).

If this office may be of any further assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,

LYNN FITCH, ATTORNEY GENERAL

By: /s/ Maggie Kate Bobo
Maggie Kate Bobo
Special Assistant Attorney General