83 Percent of Mississippians and 89 Percent of Mississippi Gun Owners Believe that a Permit Should Be Required to Carry a Concealed Handgun in Public; Mississippi Law Enforcement Has Spoken Out Repeatedly Against Permitless Carry
JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a part of Everytown for Gun Safety, released the following statements today denouncing the legislature’s passage of H.B. 786, which will dismantle Mississippi’s concealed carry permitting system and allows people, including some violent criminals and people with dangerous mental illness, to carry handguns in public without a permit.
STATEMENT FROM SHIRLEY HOPKINS DAVIS, VOLUNTEER LEADER OF THE MISSISSIPPI CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:
“Mississippians will be put at risk as a result of this bill that will allow certain violent criminals and those with dangerous mental illness to carry concealed handguns without a permit. Mississippi legislators should have listened to the 83 percent of Mississippians – and 89 percent of Mississippi gun owners – who agree that anyone who carries a hidden, loaded handgun in public should have a permit. That’s why Moms Demand Action is urging Governor Phil Bryant to reject this dangerous bill and veto HB 786.
STATEMENT FROM ABERDEEN MAYOR CECIL BELLE, MEMBER OF MAYORS AGAINST ILLEGAL GUNS:
“I am disappointed and concerned that our legislature passed such a dangerous bill and ignored the majority of our constituents. As Mayor of Aberdeen, I take the safety of my city and its residents very seriously. HB 786, which will dismantle our current concealed carry permitting system, is a step in the wrong direction for public safety. I urge Governor Phil Bryant to veto this bill.”
In addition to 89 percent of Mississippi gun owners who believe that a person should have a permit to carry a concealed handgun in public, Mississippi law enforcement has repeatedly spoken out against the bill as well. This month, Ken Winter, Executive Director of the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police said, “This bill would put law enforcement officers and all Mississippians directly in harm’s way.”
And last month, Mississippi Moms Demand Action and gun violence survivors gathered at the Capitol with Lucy McBath – whose son Jordan Davis was shot and killed at a Jacksonville, Florida gas station in 2012 over loud music – to send a message to lawmakers that HB 786 would be dangerous for public safety.