MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2024 Regular Session

To: Judiciary, Division B

By: Senator(s) DeLano

Senate Bill 2627

AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 97-37-39, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CRIMINALIZE THE MANUFACTURE, POSSESSION AND USE OF MACHINE GUN CONVERSION DEVICES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  The following section shall be codified as Section 97-37-39, Mississippi Code of 1972:

     97-37-39.  (1)  (a)  Any person who manufactures, possesses, or uses a machine gun conversion device and who is not otherwise authorized by federal law to manufacture, possess or use a machine gun conversion device shall be guilty of a felony.

          (b)  For purposes of this act, the following terms shall have the meanings described herein:

               (i)  "Machine gun conversion" means and includes devices that convert ordinary semiautomatic firearms into fully automatic machine guns, which may include, but shall not be limited to "Glock switches" or "auto-sears".

               (ii)  Machine gun means and includes:

                    1.  Any weapon which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily restored to shoot, automatically more than one (1) shot without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger;

                    2.  The frame or receiver of any such weapon;

                    3.  Any part designed and intended solely and exclusively or combination of parts designed and intended for use in converting a weapon into a machine gun; or

                    4.  Any combination of parts from which a machine gun can be assembled if such parts are in the possession or under the control of a person.

     (2)  Any person convicted of a first offense in violation of this act shall be guilty of a felony, and shall be sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not more than ten (10) years, fined not more than Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00), or both.

     (3)  A person convicted of a second or subsequent offense shall be charged with a felony under this act and shall be sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not more than fifteen (15) years, fined not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or both.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.