Mississippi’s Constitutional Carry Bill Faces Heavy Opposition

A television ad was aired across the state last week that claiming dangers associated with a new bill being considered by Mississippi lawmakers.

The catalyst for the proposed bill was a recent violent attack at a South Carolina church last year. The bill, also called “Mississippi Church Protection Act”, aims to increase public safety by streamlining the process for citizens who will protect their community.

HB 786 would dismantle the current concealed carry permitting system and would allow concealed carry without a permit. If it becomes law, Mississippi would become just the seventh state to allow individuals to carry concealed handguns in public without a permit.

Activist groups Moms Demand Action and Everytown Gun Safety are trying to warn people of the dangers they feel this bill will bring. They argue that by removing the important public safety requirement of having a permit, it will result in more violent criminals, more mentally ill individuals carrying hidden, loaded guns in public, and risking the lives of law enforcement.

The Mississippi Police Chiefs Association are also opposed to HB 786. They’ve expressed a concern that law enforcement officers won’t know if a violent criminal is carrying a firearm or not. Under the state’s current law, various categories of people are prohibited from carrying in public. These include violent criminals, those with dangerous mental illnesses, and chronic alcoholics.

A recent survey of registered votes showed that that 83 percent of Mississippi residents support requiring permits to carry a concealed handgun in public. A majority of those surveyed responded favorably to questions like “A few questions today about guns. First … Do you … strongly support? Support? Oppose? Or strongly oppose … requiring all gun buyers to pass a criminal background check, no matter where they buy a gun and no matter whom they buy a gun from?” and “Do you think it is possible to protect the 2nd amendment right to own a gun while also keeping guns away from dangerous people?”

“The ad shows why it is important for lawmakers to protect Mississippians, especially our law enforcement officers and not dismantle such an important public safety law,” said Dr. Shirley Hopkins Davis, volunteer with the Mississippi Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.”You can uphold the Second Amendment while making sure that violent criminals and people with dangerous mental illnesses are not allowed to carry guns. We urge our legislators to listen to the 83 percent of Mississippians who support requiring permits to carry concealed handguns in public, and act to keep the safety of all those in our state a top priority.”