Gun safety activist are urging Mississippi lawmakers to pass a bill that would temporarily take firearms away from people under certain circumstances. MPB's Desare Frazier reports.
Senate Bill 2055 referred to as the Red Flag Law would allow families or law enforcement to intervene when they believe someone is a threat to themselves or others and has access to guns. Mary Helen Able is with Mississippi Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.
"It basically says that with adequate due process guns can be temporarily removed from the hands of someone who shows to be a risk to themselves or others," said Abel.
An emergency chancery court hearing would be held to determine if a risk exists. If so the guns would be confiscated for six months with the possibility of renewal. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 681 gun-related deaths in the state in 2018. Forty-eight percent are suicides. Tonjula Shelby of Jackson is lobbying lawmakers after losing her 25-year old son to gun violence in 2017. Her message:
"Develop, establish, talk about and pass laws that are against gun violence. Moms demand action, we don't oppose individuals having guns but what we do is we want you to make sure that there are laws that enforce gun sense use," said Shelby.
Republican Representative Randy Rushing of Decatur says he'll consider gun safety legislation. His concern is people misusing the Red Flag Law.
"I think we're getting into a gray area when you can have a dispute with your neighbor over a fence line or my dog's barking keeping them awake at night, then my neighbor can pick up the phone and say they're scared of me because I own a gun," said Rushing.
The bill has been referred to two senate committees for review. Seventeen states have passed a similar law.