Everytown, Mississippi Moms Demand Action Release New Television Ad Opposing HB 786, Which Would Allow Permitless Carry

New poll results show 83% of Mississippians Support Requiring Permits To Carry a Concealed Handgun in Public

TV Ad Can Be Seen Here

JACKSON, Miss. – Everytown for Gun Safety and the Mississippi Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America today released a new television ad that will air across the state this week opposing HB 786, a bill currently being considered by the Mississippi legislature that would allow people to carry loaded, hidden handguns in public without a permit.

The ad highlights the dangers of eliminating this important public safety requirement that would not only allow some violent criminals and people with dangerous mental illnesses to carry hidden, loaded guns in public, but also put the lives of law enforcement at risk. The Mississippi Police Chiefs Association has come out in opposition to HB 786 and 83% of Mississippians support requiring permits to carry a concealed handgun in public.

“The ad shows why it is important for lawmakers to protect Mississippians, especially our law enforcement officers and not dismantle such an important public safety law,” said Dr. Shirley Hopkins Davis, volunteer with the Mississippi Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “You can uphold the Second Amendment while making sure that violent criminals and people with dangerous mental illnesses are not allowed to carry guns. We urge our legislators to listen to the 83% of Mississippians who support requiring permits to carry concealed handguns in public, and act to keep the safety of all those in our state a top priority.”

Although HB 786 is called the “Mississippi Church Protection Act,” it also contains language that would lower the bar for who can carry a hidden, loaded handgun in public in Mississippi. Under the state’s current concealed carry permitting system, several categories of people are generally prohibited from carrying in public, including:

• Violent Criminals: Mississippi currently prohibits some people convicted of certain violent misdemeanors from having concealed carry permits.
  
• People with Dangerous Mental Illnesses: Mississippi currently prohibits people who voluntarily committed themselves to mental institutions from having concealed carry permits.
  
• Chronic Alcoholics: Mississippi currently prohibits people who chronically abuse alcohol from having concealed carry permits.

HB 786 would dismantle the current concealed carry permitting system and allow these people to carry a concealed handgun in public without a permit. If HB 786 becomes law, Mississippi would become just the seventh state to allow individuals to carry concealed handguns in public without any permitting.