How to Get a Guard Card in Mississippi
Unlike many other states, Mississippi does not require its security guards to possess a license to work in the field. However, armed guards must possess a firearm security guard card from the state to operate a gun while on duty. Companies that hire their own guards, called in-house security, expect individuals to possess previous work experience in security, law enforcement or the military. The pay range for Mississippi security guards depends on years of experience and the guard's work location. According to I Hire Security, at the time of publication, an entry-level security guard earns at least $14,000 a year.
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Instructions
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Get hired as a security guard. Home-grown security firms such as Pendleton Security in Jackson and Archangel Security in Meridian provide online applications. CareerBuilder and Indeed.com usually list Mississippi security guard opportunities from national firms, such as AlliedBarton and Whelan. Security guard employment is also available in private industries, such as stores and banks. Channel Control Merchants LLC, an inventory liquidators company in Hattiesburg, for example, hires its own security guards.
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Pass rigorous background checks. After acing a job interview and an offer of employment is extended, companies usually subject candidates to extensive investigations. Pendleton Security recruiters, for example, check a candidate's criminal, health and character backgrounds.
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Get training from the company that hires you. Capital City Security in Jackson, for example, requires guards to complete 40 hours of classroom training.
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Obtain a Mississippi Statewide Security Guard Gun Permit application with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. Applications are available by visiting the Mississippi DPS website (see References). Requirements for obtaining a permit include no prior felonies in any state (Mississippi Code of 1972, Section 97-37-7), no misdemeanor domestic violence charges [Title 18, United States Code, Section 922 (g) (9)] and current employment as an unarmed guard.
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Complete the security guard gun permit application. Security guards must have their application, the domestic violence rider and authority to release information forms notarized. In addition, applicants are to attach a photograph that is no more than six months old prior to the date of the application. Security guards who are not citizens of the United States must also notarize the rider located on page 4.
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Visit a Mississippi DPS Office to take fingerprints so Mississippi DPS can complete a federal criminal background check. Prior to having the fingerprints taken, fill out the requested information on the card, including your name and date of birth. Fingerprints are to be completed at the Mississippi DPS headquarters in Jackson or a Mississippi Highway Patrol substation, located in Greenwood, Batesville, New Albany, Starksville, Meridian, Hattiesburg, Biloxi and Brookhaven. Submit the card with your application.
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Submit a gun permit application to the Firearm Permit Unit. Take your application forms and application fee to the unit in Jackson between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays or to your local driver's license office to begin the process of verifying the application. At the time of publication, the fee was $132 ($100 permit fee, $32 fingerprint processing fee). Do not mail your application. Once the package has been submitted, Mississippi law allows the state 45 days to process the application. After this period, you will be notified if the application was accepted or denied. Your permit will be valid for four years.
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References
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