A Mississippi gun bill passed by a lawmaker would allow some church members to carry guns to protect the congregation. After the house voted 85-35, the gun bill will now be passed for Gov. Phil Bryant's approval or veto.
According to Wacotrib, the House Bill 786 sponsored by Rep. Andy Gipson of Braxton would permit places of worship to assign members to go through firearms training. The members then would be allowed to bring guns in the churches in order to secure the churchgoers. The gun bill will also permit people to carry guns in holsters without a hidden gun permit. After the lawmakers approved the bill in the house, it is now passed to the governor's desk for his endorsement or veto.
"This will allow a church to have a sergeant-at-arms to protect the church body, just like we have (in the Legislature)." He said church violence such as the shootings in Charleston, South Carolina, are prompting such measures," Sen. Sean Tindell, R-Gulfport, said about the approval of the gun bill, Clarion Ledger reported.
In a separate report by Salon, it is claimed that the gun bill, which is also called the "Mississippi Church Protection Act", would only welcome forming of the militia into the houses of worship. The act would reportedly allow the killing of a person while acting as a participant of a church as justifiable homicide. As cited by the gun bill, the firearms include a "stun gun, concealed pistol or concealed revolver."
We don't need to pimp the church for political purposes," Sen. Hillman Frazier, D-Jackson, argued on the passing of the gun bill in the senate. "If you want to pass gun laws, do that, but don't use the church."
The gun bill was allegedly authored by Braxton after the controversial church shooting that took place in Charleston, South Carolina. He further added that the gun bill would allow places of worship an added security. The opposition argued that the legislation uses religion in order to loosen the gun laws.
