Mississippi Lawmakers Send NRA-Backed Bill to Governor's Desk

HB 314 a Win for Second Amendment Rights

Fairfax, VA – The Mississippi House of Representatives has taken final action on the NRA-supported H.B. 314 which implements several important protections for law-abiding gun owners, clearing the way for the bill to go to Governor Phil Bryant for his signature.  The measure received broad bi-partisan support in both state legislative chambers passing the House 103-18, and the Senate by a vote of 40-11.

"This is a victory for everyone in Mississippi who values their Second Amendment reedoms," noted Chris W. Cox, executive director of the NRA's Institute for Legislative Action. "This legislation provides a number of vital reforms to Mississippi law including provisions that prevent gun confiscations and that preserve the self-defense rights of residents who live in public housing."

H.B. 314 expands protections against government confiscation of legally-possessed firearms during a state of emergency or natural disaster. It would also protect law-abiding gun owners from restrictive gun control laws at the local level by giving them a legal remedy to challenge those that are enacted outside the scope of what state law allows. This bill would also protect the rights of law-abiding citizens who live in public housing to possess firearms and put a stop to local governments destroying firearms rounded up in taxpayer-funded gun buyback programs.

"I would like to thank Rep. Andy Gipson for sponsoring this bill and championing it in the House and Senators Briggs Hopson and Sean Tindell for navigating the measure successfully through the Senate. We are also grateful for the efforts of House Speaker Philip Gunn and Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves for their leadership roles in passage of this important legislation," concluded Cox.

-NRA-
Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America's oldest civil rights and sportsmen's group. More than five million members strong, NRA continues to uphold the Second Amendment and advocates enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation's leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the armed services. Be sure to follow the NRA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NationalRifleAssociation and on Twitter @NRA.