Mississippi: Senate Gives Final Approval to SB 2394 & SB 2619; Bills Head To Governor Bryant for His Expected Signature

Provisions reducing concealed carry permit fees and allowing permitless "purse & briefcase carry" included!

On Sunday, under the leadership of Lt. Governor Tate Reeves (R), the Senate adopted conference committee reports on Senate Bill 2394, sponsored by state Senator Terry Burton (R-Newton), on a 49 to 3 vote, and Senate Bill 2619, sponsored by state Senator Haskins Montgomery (D-Bay Springs) unanimously, giving final legislative approval to both measures.  Reeves made SB 2394 a priority legislative agenda item for his office this session.  Governor Phil Bryant (R) has already publicly announced that he will sign both bills into law.

These two measures make critical pro-Second Amendment reforms, including a clarification that a state-issued permit is not necessary to transport a loaded or unloaded pistol or revolver in a purse, handbag, satchel, other similar bag or briefcase or fully enclosed case.  These bills also streamline training requirements for the enhanced carry endorsement on permits for veterans and men and women in the Armed Forces, reduce the cost to both active military and civilians who obtain regular DPS-issued permits to carry firearms for personal protection, and ensure that your right to purchase, own and carry firearms and ammunition are not infringed upon through federal rulemaking or overreach by local governments. 

Please send a note of thanks to Lt. Governor Reeves via email, Facebook or Twitter for his leadership and for prioritizing passage of SB 2394.  Also, be sure to thank your State Senator if he or she voted for SB 2394 and SB 2619.  Votes are available and accessible for SB 2394 and SB 2619.  Contact information for your state Senator can be found here.

More details on what was included in the conference committee reports on both SB 2394 and SB 2619 can be found below: 

Conference Report on SB 2394

• Reduces fees for an original regular concealed carry permit from $100 to $80, for a renewed concealed carry permit from $50 to $40, and exempts active duty military personnel from any application fees.  Renewal fees for senior citizens will also drop from $25 to $20.

• Clarifies that a state-issued permit is not necessary for the transportation of loaded or unloaded pistols or revolvers in a purse, handbag, satchel, other similar bag or briefcase or fully enclosed case.

• Establishes a special classification of carry permit for honorably retired law enforcement officers and honorably retired correctional offers who provide letters from their respective agency or department confirming their status and completion of a certified law enforcement training academy.  

Conference Report on SB 2619

• Eliminates training requirement for an enhanced carry permit endorsement for active military personnel, honorably discharged veterans or retired law enforcement if they have already completed law enforcement or combat training with handguns as part of their service.

• Exempts members or veterans of the National Guard or Reserve units from state’s residency requirement for a regular concealed carry permit and lowers their minimum age requirement for a permit from 21 to 18.

• Removes a provision in law that could leave Mississippians who currently and lawfully own commonly-used rifle cartridges for hunting, target shooting and self-defense vulnerable to state prosecution if federal regulations governing .223/5.56mm ammunition are amended by BATFE without any approval from Congress.

• Makes clarifying changes to the state firearms preemption statute in light of a recent Attorney General opinion, bringing the law into line with the intent of HB 314 from the 2014 session relative to where cities and counties cannot ban permit holders with an enhanced carry endorsement (parks, governmental meetings and non-firearm athletic events).