MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Judiciary B

By: Representative Moore (60th)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 97-37-31, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE MANUFACTURE, SALE, POSSESSION AND USE OF SILENCERS ON FIREARMS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 97-37-31, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

97-37-31. It shall be unlawful for any person, persons, corporation or manufacturing establishment, not duly authorized under federal law, to make, manufacture, sell or possess any instrument or device which, if used on firearms of any kind, will arrest or muffle * * * the report of said firearm when shot or fired provided, that such persons authorized under federal law may sell such instruments or devices only to certified law enforcement officers.  * * * Any person * * * violating this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined * * * not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or imprisoned in the penitentiary not * * * more than thirty (30) days, or both. All such instruments or devices shall be registered with the Department of Public Safety and any law enforcement agency in possession of such instruments or devices shall submit an annual inventory of such instruments and devices to the Department of Public Safety. The Commissioner of Public Safety shall document the information required by this section.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2000.