Pending

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO 1 PROPOSED TO

Senate Bill No. 2186

BY: Committee

     Amend by striking all after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

     SECTION 1.  Section 97-37-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     97-37-3.  (1)  Any weapon used in violation of Section 97-37-1, or used in the commission of any other crime, shall be seized by the arresting officer, may be introduced in evidence, and in the event of a conviction, shall be ordered to be forfeited, and shall be disposed of as ordered by the court having jurisdiction of such offense.  In the event of dismissal or acquittal of charges, such weapon shall be returned to the accused from whom it was seized.

     (2)  (a)  If the weapon to be forfeited is merchantable, the court may order the weapon forfeited to the seizing law enforcement agency.

          (b)  A weapon so forfeited to a law enforcement agency may be sold at auction as provided by Sections 19-3-85 and 21-39-21 to a federally-licensed firearms dealer, with the proceeds from such sale at auction to be used to * * * buy bulletproof vests purchase tactical equipment for the seizing law enforcement agency.

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

     Further, amend by striking the title in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

     AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 97-37-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE LAW ENFORCEMENT TO PURCHASE TACTICAL EQUIPMENT WITH THE PROCEEDS OF THE SALE OF FORFEITED WEAPONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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