Mississippi is the newest state to do away with the need for a special permit to legally carry a concealed weapon and this time the change in law comes with an interesting twist. The primary focus of the new law (House Bill 786), better known as the “Mississippi Church Protection Act,” allows for the arming and training of security personnel in the state’s churches and classifies the armed defense of a church’s segregation as justifiable homicide.

The new law was signed by the governor on April 15, 2016 and the governor said the law was a direct response to recent church related shootings in southern states. The new law will take effect starting July 1, 2016.

If you have my Concealed & Open Carry State Law chart, be sure to update with this new development.  If you do not have the chart but would like one, please email me.

Photo: The photo above focuses on what was sitting on the Governor’s desk when he signed House Bill 786 into law.  Full photo can be found at: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/255fca24d16245f28a73644525a1fc03/mississippi-governor-signs-law-allowing-armed-church