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COVID-19: Threat to Second Amendment

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Nothing is more important than protecting ourselves and our families -- especially during these times of uncertainty. Yet, some anti-gun lawmakers are exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic to deny you and your loved ones your fundamental right to self-defense and your Second Amendment rights. 

These anti-gun and anti-self defense extremists deem gun stores "non-essential," they shut down issuance of firearm permits, and, in some locations, they have created extreme delays for background checks required for firearm transfers. Some jurisdictions have even put added restrictions on firearm transfers, making it all but impossible for many law-abiding Americans to exercise their Second Amendment rights.

All of this is happening against a backdrop of reported prisoner furloughs and law enforcement only arresting for the most serious of crimes. 

Just like you, we know that's wrong.

That is why the NRA will keep a constant watch on what is happening nationwide and will work diligently to ensure that you are able to defend yourself and your family during these unprecedented times. In the past four decades, your NRA has led the way to pass Right-to-Carry, Castle Doctrine, and most important for the current crisis, protection against gun confiscation during declared emergencies. This time is no different.

We hope you find this website useful. Please use it to stay updated on what's happening in your town or state and across the country. If you need help or would like to alert us to something happening in your town or state, please contact us here or send us an email at [email protected].

During these difficult times, your NRA is keeping vigilant watch over your right to buy a gun and to make sure you are able to defend yourself and your family. The NRA fights for all law-abiding gun owners, whether they can afford to donate or not. We understand times are tough. But, if you have the means, please help us keep fighting against those politicians who are determined to strip away our right to self-defense and their billionaire backers. Every dollar counts. We thank you in advance.   

If you are unable to help us at this time, please drop us a line and let us know how you and your family are doing. We are always grateful to hear from our members and supporters. Again, a big THANK YOU from all of us here at the NRA.

Stay safe.

 

 

Covid-19 Articles
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Click here to view your state's laws on emergency powers and firearms

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State preemption law: Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-51​. Counties and municipalities are generally prohibited from adopting "any ordinance that restricts the possession, carrying, transportation, sale, transfer or ownership of firearms or ammunition or their components​." Further, public housing authorities are prohibited from restricting a tenant from possessing firearms, ammunition, and firearms components in their dwelling. Further, Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-53​ bars a county, municipality or their employees and officers from participating in a firearm turn-in (colloquially known as buybacks) unless the collected firearms are offered at auction to federal firearms licensees.

Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-53​ provides exemptions to the general prohibition on counties and municipalities to permit them to regulate the discharge of firearms within certain parameters(see also: Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-57), the storage of black powder, the receipt of firearms at pawnshops, regulate firearms businesses through zoning provided zoning ordinances are not used to circumvent the preemption statute. Further, counties and municipalities are permitted "to regulate the carrying of a firearm at: (i) a public park or at a public meeting of a county, municipality or other governmental body; (ii) a political rally, parade or official political meeting; or (iii) a nonfirearm-related school, college or professional athletic event​." 

Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-53 establishes a remedy for individuals adversely affected by a county or municipality's violation of state firearms preemption. A plaintiff may seek declarative and injunctive relief and a prevailing plaintiff is entitled to reasonable attorney's fees and costs. Further, "any elected county or municipal official under whose jurisdiction the violation occurred may be civilly liable in a sum not to exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00)​."

Restrictions on firearms and ammunition in a declared state of emergency:​​ Miss. Code Ann. § 33-7-303​ states that no statute "shall be construed to confer upon the Governor or any official or employee of any department, agency or political subdivision of the state the power to​: (i) Confiscate or seize a firearm, ammunition, or components of firearms or ammunition from a person who is in lawful possession of such firearm, ammunition, or components of ammunition; or(ii) Impose additional restrictions as to the lawful possession, transfer, sale, carrying, storage, display or use of firearms, ammunition, or components of firearms or ammunition.​"

Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-53(d) creates an exemption the state firearms preemption statute to "regulate the use of firearms in cases of insurrection, riots and natural disasters in which the city finds such regulation necessary to protect the health and safety of the public." However, the subsection goes on to make clear that this authority "shall not apply to the lawful possession of firearms, ammunition or components of firearms or ammunition​."

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Tuesday, July 7, 2020

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U.S. Attorney Hurst: Our constitutional rights do not end at Jackson’s city limits

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Wednesday, April 29, 2020

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Monday, April 27, 2020

Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch Issues a Stern Rebuke of Jackson Mayor’s Ban on Open Carry

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Monday, April 27, 2020

Jackson Mayor Uses COVID-19 to Unlawfully Ban Open Carry

On Friday, Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba issued an executive order suspending "the carrying of an unconcealed loaded or ...

Gun Makers and Sellers Remain "Essential" Under Governor Reeves' New Shelter-In-Place Order for Mississippi

Thursday, April 2, 2020

Gun Makers and Sellers Remain "Essential" Under Governor Reeves' New Shelter-In-Place Order for Mississippi

Yesterday afternoon, Governor Tate Reeves issued a statewide shelter-in-place order to fight the spread of the coronavirus in Mississippi ...

NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.