New Mississippi gun law targets youth firearm crimes

By Morgan Gill, Roy Howard Community Journalism Center and Bibhas Pantha, RhCJC News | Originally published by Mississippi Today

FORREST COUNTY — Some Mississippi minors accused of firearm-related crimes will be sent to adult circuit court instead of youth court under a new law that also increases penalties for stolen-gun offenses. 

Senate Bill 2710 takes effect July 1. It increases penalties for possessing, selling or transferring stolen firearms, especially if those guns are later used in violent crimes. 

State Sen. Joey Fillingane, R-Sumrall, said the bill was developed after law enforcement agencies and local leaders raised concerns about youth violence involving firearms. 

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“That was their priority for this legislative session … was to try to figure out a way to curb or try to restrict the amount of increase in youthful violence as it relates to use of deadly weapons,” Fillingane said. 

Mississippi continues to report one of the highest firearm death rates in the country. According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the state’s firearm death rate was about 29.4 deaths per 100,000 residents. About 810 deaths in Mississippi were due to firearms in 2024.

What Senate Bill 2710 changes 

Senate Bill 2710 moves certain firearm-related cases involving minors from youth court to circuit court. Those cases include violent crimes, possession or trafficking of stolen firearms, drive-by shootings or other firearm crimes, and illegal firearm possession tied to felonies. 

Fillingane said the bill also strengthens penalties for people who possess, sell or transfer stolen guns, or traffic multiple stolen firearms. 

“The days of allowing young people — underage folks — to get away with very violent crimes using deadly weapons in Mississippi has ended. We are no longer going to tolerate anybody, whether you’re over 21 or under 21,” Fillingane said.

The law also makes it a crime to intentionally discharge a firearm into a group of two or more people, even if no one is injured. 

Penalties include up to five years in prison for a first stolen-firearm conviction; at least 15 years for repeat stolen-firearm offenses or possession of multiple stolen firearms; 10 to 20 years for transferring a stolen firearm to a minor; and up to 40 years if a stolen firearm is later used in attempted murder, murder, capital murder or child homicide. 

People convicted of shooting into a group could face five to 15 years in prison and fines of up to $10,000. Cases involving minors, schools, churches, parks, gangs or terrorist organizations could carry up to 30 years in prison and $20,000 in fines. 

Local retailer raises theft concerns 

Matt Pelham, general manager of The Lead Dispensary in Hattiesburg, said the store experienced an attempted robbery on May 3 involving four teenagers who vandalized a window. 

Although tougher penalties may help, Pelham said security remains the store’s first line of defense. 

“It’s more our responsibility to keep it out of the most capable thief’s hands,” Pelham said. “So really the front line of defense is our security which obviously it helped a lot because those kids didn’t even try to get through the window.” 

Pelham and Fillingane said many stolen firearms are taken from unsecured vehicles overnight and later used in crimes. 

“The number one place where stolen firearms are stolen from and wind up in the criminal’s hands is from people’s personal vehicles overnight,” Fillingane said. 

Pelham said some gangs use minors to steal firearms because juveniles often face lighter punishment. 

“Gang initiations can include sending children in to steal firearms because their punishment is less severe than if the adults were to go do it themselves,” Pelham added. 

Store employees said guns are placed in vaults and removed from display after hours to deter theft. Pelham said he believes stricter gun laws could help reduce robberies and other violent crimes. 

Gun safety and prevention

While Senate Bill 2710 focuses on penalties, firearm retailers also emphasized safe storage and firearms education. 

“I’ve heard of accidental shootings. Children usually, because they’re curious. That’s why I say teach your children, you know, because you don’t want them to be curious, and that’s how accidents happen,” Pawn Shop Plus employee Amanda Pool said. 

Pool said guns should be stored in a safe at home and kept away from teenagers and children. 

“I also suggest taking them to shoot with you and teaching them,” Pool said. “Because if they know what it does and the sound of it, they’re less likely to want to mess with it.” 

State leaders and local firearms retailers said Senate Bill 2710 is meant to reduce violent crime and increase accountability for firearm-related offenses involving minors and stolen guns.

This article was originally published by Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Source: Original Article