JACKSON, Miss. (Apr. 5, 2016) – Today, the Mississippi House gave final approval to a bill that not only allows unlicensed, “constitutional carry,” but also sets the foundation to reject and end new federal gun control regulations and executive orders. 

Originally introduced as a church security bill to allow those with a concealed carry permit to have a firearm in church, House Bill 786 (HB 786) was passed in the House by a vote of 85-33. However, when it was sent to the Senate, the scope of the bill was greatly expanded in the Judiciary A Committee. As noted by a report from Guns.com:

House Judiciary B Committee Chairman Andy Gipson, R-Braxton, himself a lawyer and minister of a small church, was able to add an amendment to allow unlicensed carry of a concealed gun elsewhere in the state so long as it is in a holster or scabbard on the belt or shoulder.

This builds on laws adopted in 2013 legalizing open carry  and one last year to allow for carry in a purse or bag without a permit. 

Additionally … language included in HB 786 would take on federal gun control measures issued by rule, regulation, agency order, or executive order.  It reads:

No federal executive order, agency order, law not enrolled by the United States Congress and signed by the President of the United States, rule, regulation or administrative interpretation of a law or statute issued, enacted or promulgated after July 1, 2016, that violates the United States Constitution or the Mississippi Constitution of 1890 shall be enforced or ordered to be enforced by any official, agent or employee of this  state or a political subdivision thereof.

The bill passed the Senate last week with a 36-14 vote. It was sent back to the House for approval of the expanded Senate language, and today the full House gave final approval by concurring in the Senate amendments….

WHAT’S NEXT

Speaking in favor of the bill on the Senate floor, Sen. Sean Tindell noted that the legislation would not only protect the 2nd Amendment from further violations, but that the right to keep and bear arms is a natural, “God-given right that our forefathers recognized.”

In recent weeks, gun control groups like “Everytown for Gun Safety” and “Moms Demand Action” blitzed the state with ads against the bill, according to Guns.com.

“We beat Bloomberg!” said Elaine Vechorik, Vice-President of Mississippi for Liberty.

HB 786 will now move to Gov. Phil Bryant’s desk. He must sign or veto the bill within 5 days after transmittal (excluding Sunday), or it becomes law without his signature. 

Read More at the Tenth Amendment Center

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