MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2014 Regular Session
To: Judiciary B
By: Representative Baker
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 45-9-53, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE EXCEPTIONS ON RESTRICTIONS UPON LOCAL REGULATION OF FIREARMS OR AMMUNITION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 45-9-53, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
45-9-53. (1) This section and Section 45-9-51 do not affect the authority that a county or municipality may have under another law:
(a) To require citizens or public employees to be armed for personal or national defense, law enforcement, or another lawful purpose;
(b) To regulate the discharge of firearms within the limits of the county or municipality. A county or municipality may not apply a regulation relating to the discharge of firearms or other weapons in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the county or municipality or in an area annexed by the county or municipality after September 1, 1981, if the firearm or other weapon is:
(i) A shotgun, air rifle or air pistol, BB gun or bow and arrow discharged:
1. On a tract of land of ten (10) acres or more and more than one hundred fifty (150) feet from a residence or occupied building located on another property; and
2. In a manner not reasonably expected to cause a projectile to cross the boundary of the tract; or
(ii) A center fire or rim fire rifle or pistol or a muzzle-loading rifle or pistol of any caliber discharged:
1. On a tract of land of fifty (50) acres or more and more than three hundred (300) feet from a residence or occupied building located on another property; and
2. In a manner not reasonably expected to cause a projectile to cross the boundary of the tract;
(c) To regulate the
use of property or location of businesses for uses therein pursuant to fire
code, zoning ordinances, or land-use regulations, so long as such codes,
ordinances and regulations are not used to circumvent the intent of Section 45-9-51
or * * *
paragraph (e) of this * * * subsection;
(d) * * *
The
provisions of this section shall not apply to the lawful possession of firearms
in the home, place of business or in transit to and from the home or place of
business;
(e) To regulate the storage or transportation of explosives in order to protect the health and safety of the public, with the exception of black powder which is exempt up to twenty-five (25) pounds per private residence and fifty (50) pounds per retail dealer;
(f) To regulate the carrying of a firearm at: (i) a public park or at a public meeting of a county, municipality or other governmental body; (ii) a political rally, parade or official political meeting; or (iii) a nonfirearm-related school, college or professional athletic event; or
(g) To regulate the receipt of firearms by pawnshops.
(2) The exception provided by subsection (1)(f) of this section does not apply if the firearm was in or carried to and from an area designated for use in a lawful hunting, fishing or other sporting event and the firearm is of the type commonly used in the activity.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2014.