Mississippi: Legislature Adjourns from its 2018 Legislative Session

This week, the Mississippi Legislature completed its 2018 Regular Session in Jackson.  NRA-supported House Bill 1083 ultimately failed to pass, as the House rightfully refused to accept language added in the Senate which would have imposed restrictions on enhanced carry permit holders at any school, college or professional athletic event.  Unfortunately, school security language that was also included in this bill failed to pass as well.  The net effect of this result is that current law remains in place, meaning enhanced carry permit holders are not prohibited by law from possessing their firearms on public property except that which is listed in Mississippi Code Section 97-37-7(2), but state agencies and higher educational institutions will likely continue to attempt to prohibit them through administrative rules and signage.  

Also of note this week, Rep. Andy Gipson (R-Braxton) was appointed Agriculture Commissioner of Mississippi by Governor Phil Bryant (R), filling the open seat created by the recent appointment of incumbent Commissioner Cindy Hyde-Smith to the U.S. Senate.  During his tenure in the Mississippi House, Andy chaired the House Judiciary B Committee -- where most firearm-related legislation was referred -- and successfully authored such landmark measures as open carry, critical firearms preemption improvements and permitless carry legislation.  For these efforts, he was awarded NRA's coveted Defender of Freedom Award and twice honored by his House Republican colleagues as "Conservative Legislator of the Year."  Mississippi gun owners owe him a debt of gratitude for his steadfast support of their Second Amendment rights and for changing the landscape of gun laws in the Magnolia State.  Please take a moment to visit him on Facebook and thank him for his service.