Mississippi Housing Authorities Deny Second Amendment Rights
It has come to my attention that public housing authorities in Mississippi are denying tenants their constitutional right to keep and bear arms. In 2014 Governor Bryant signed into law HB-314, which specifically prohibited public housing authorities operating in Mississippi from adopting any rule or regulation restricting a lessee or tenant from lawfully possessing firearms or ammunition. Below I’ve included an excerpt from the current Mississippi code 45-9-51;
“No public housing authority operating in this state may adopt any rule or regulation restricting a lessee or tenant of a dwelling owned and operated by such public housing authority from lawfully possessing firearms or ammunition or their components within individual dwelling units or the transportation of such firearms or ammunition or their components to and from such dwelling.”
One example is the Housing Authority of the City of Corinth which specifically states;
“The Housing Authority prohibits the possession and/or discharge of a dangerous weapon on any of the Housing Authority’s properties.”
Their policy continues to ban slingshots and knives and states that any weapons “may be confiscated.” This is a flagrant violation of Mississippi law as is other anti-gun policies implemented by the City of Corinth. In 2014 Governor Bryant signed HB-314, which specifically prohibited public housing authorities operating in Mississippi from adopting any rule or regulation restricting a lessee or tenant from lawfully possessing firearms or ammunition.
Below I’ve included an excerpt from the current Mississippi code 45-9-51;
“No public housing authority operating in this state may adopt any rule or regulation restricting a lessee or tenant of a dwelling owned and operated by such public housing authority from lawfully possessing firearms or ammunition or their components within individual dwelling units or the transportation of such firearms or ammunition or their components to and from such dwelling.”
On December 19, 2016, I notified every public housing authority in the state of Mississippi of the current law and asked that they provide me with a copy of their current policy. I’ve also asked each to rescend any rule or regulation that restricts their lessee’s rights to possess firearms or ammunition in their dwellings. It is a shame that public officials who claim to be pro-second amendment make rules and policy decisions that prove they are actually no better than your average anti-gun, anti-freedom democrat.
Limiting the rights of Mississippi citizens simply because they are poor and live in public housing is a violation of the law and simply wrong.
If you are a resident of a Mississippi public housing complex and this violation of the law has negatively affected you, please contact me at Dana@DanaCriswell.net. Also, if you have a copy of your housing authorities rules that show a violation please send me a copy.
It is your responsibility to stay informed
