Source: https://midsouthgunlawyer.com/municipalities-can-cannot/
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 11:00:05+00:00

Document:
Federal requirements for multiple acquisitions.
ATF Form 3310.4 “Report of Multiple Sale or Other Disposition of Pistols and Revolvers” is to be used when someone purchases two or more handguns within five days of each other.
Can require citizens or public employees to be armed for personal or national defense, law enforcement, or another lawful purpose. Code Ann. § 45-9-53(1)(a).
Can regulate the discharge of a firearm within the jurisdictional limits. Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-53(1)(b).
Ten acres for any shotgun, air rifle or air pistol, BB gun or bow and arrow.
Fifty acres for any centerfire or rimfire rifle or pistol or a muzzle-loading rifle or pistol.
Can regulate the use of property or location of businesses pursuant to fire code, zoning ordinances, or land-use regulations. Code Ann. § 45-9-53(1)(c).
Can allow gun rallies and gun shows on municipal property including in public parks. March 21, 2014 Attorney General Opinion to Andrew Stuart, II, on behalf of City of Guntown.
Enact ordinances regulating open or concealed carry possession in sensitive places and locations found in § 45-9-53(1)(f).
Post signs in locations permitted by 45-9-53(1)(f) and § 45-9-53(4).
§ 45-9-51(2): A public housing authority may not adopt any rule or regulation restricting a lessee or tenant from lawfully possessing or transporting firearms or ammunition within individual dwelling units.
Cannot bring a lawsuit against firearm or ammunition manufacturers, distributors, or federally licensed dealers for damages or any other relief caused by lawful weapons. This power is reserved to the Mississippi Attorney General by Miss. Code Ann. § 11-1-67.
See also Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, 15 U.S.C. § 7901 et seq.
Six exceptions to the PLCAA include an action for breach of contract or warranty and design or manufacturing defects.
See also Miss. Code Ann. § 41-29-177 and Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-151 as well as October 5, 2012 Attorney General Opinion to Reynolds.
Abandoned weapons may be disposed of like other abandoned property pursuant to Miss. Code Ann. § 21-39-21.
See August 14, 2015 Attorney General Opinion to Brenton Carter, on behalf of City of Florence.
Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-55 says that no public or private employer may establish, maintain, or enforce any policy or rule that has the effect of prohibiting a person from transporting or storing a firearm in a locked vehicle in any parking lot, parking garage, or other designated parking area.
The vehicle is owned or leased by an employer and used by the employee in the course of his business.
What happens if an employer violates this section?
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.” Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-51.
“Unlike private property owners, however, the authority of custodians of public property to disallow a lawful activity on land controlled by them requires a case-by-case analysis of the authority of the public body or official under state law.” June 13, 2013 Attorney General Opinion to Sheriff Brad Lance.
So where does the municipality get the authority to limit possession and/or carry of a firearm?
The Trapp opinion acknowledges there is no law that expressly authorizes municipalities to regulate the carrying of a firearm but finds that the Home Rule Statute, Miss. Code Ann. § 21-17-5, provides such authority and would constitute “another law” as referenced in Miss. Code Ann. § 49-5-51.
Posting signage is an exercise of state law and cannot be based on Home Rule.
This means that signage can only be posted in the locations allowed by state law and that a municipality cannot look to its own authority to place signage.
“. . . the only places that a municipality may regulate the possession of firearms are those places and events listed in Section 45-9-53(1)(f). This remains our opinion, and we are unaware of any other authority under which a municipality can regulate the possession of firearms.” September 18, 2014 Attorney General Opinion to David Ringer, on behalf of City of Florence, citing December 2, 2013 Attorney General Opinion to Wendell Trapp, on behalf of City of Corinth.
Non-firearm-related school, college, or professional athletic event.
But note, this requires a case-by-case evaluation. See Special Considerations section.
“There are no Mississippi statutes that expressly grant the right to open carry and no statutes that address requirements, qualifications or limitations regarding open carrying of a firearm. With one exception [for educational property], there are no statutes that authorize signage or that purport to set out locations where open carry of a firearm is prohibited.” February 6, 2015 Attorney General Opinion to Haley Broom, on behalf of Harrison County Sheriff.
“Thus, we find no authority for a municipality to restrict the open carrying of firearms by use of signs or any means other than the express and limited authority given by Section 45-9-53.” September 18, 2014 Attorney General Opinion to David Ringer, on behalf of City of Florence, citing MS AG Op., Trapp (Dec. 2, 2013).
“Purse carry” is for all intents and purposes treated the same as open carry because “purse carry” does not fall within the provisions of the concealed weapon license scheme.
Any citizen of this state, “regular” licensee, or “enhanced” licensee who is adversely affected by an ordinance or posted written notice adopted by a county or municipality may file a complaint with the Attorney General.
The Attorney General has thirty days to investigate and render an opinion.
The municipality has thirty days from receipt of the notice to cure the violation.
If the violation is not cured the complainant may proceed to suit in circuit court.
A permanent injunction prohibiting the municipality from enforcing the ordinance or posted written notice.
A civil fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) from each county or municipal official under whose jurisdiction the violation occurred.
All reasonable attorney’s fees and costs incurred by the party bringing the suit.
Public funds may not be used to defend or reimburse officials who are found by the court to have violated this section.
Attempted to take recorded action to rescind the ordinance or remove the posted written notice.
“. . . counties have no authority to regulate, independently of state law, firearm, possession in courthouses. February 6, 2015 Attorney General Opinion to Haley Broom, on behalf of Harrison County Sheriff.
“Thus, with regard to restriction of firearms in courthouses and other sensitive places, it is our opinion that counties and municipalities are relegated to reliance on State statutes.” September 18, 2014 Attorney General Opinion to Sean Tindell, on behalf of City of Diamondhead.
“Regular” licensees are prohibited from carrying in a courthouse. Code Ann. § 45-9-101(13).
“Enhanced” licensees may not be prohibited from carrying in a courthouse but are prohibited from carrying a firearm in a courtroom during a judicial proceeding. Code Ann. § 97-37-7(2).
Courthouse security is the responsibility of the sheriff, not municipalities or counties. See Miss. Code Ann. Section 19-25-69 and February 14, 2003 Attorney General Opinion to Meadows.
Is there no authority for sheriff to regulate open carry in a courthouse?
This opinion did not decide decision of whether regulation is constitutional and noted official opinion does not provide immunity for violations of federal law or constitution.
Not brandish, exhibit or display the firearm in any careless, angry or threatening manner.
Unloaded and possessed while traversing the area to access public or private hunting lands.
The GFSZA also makes it illegal to fire or attempt to fire a gun in a school zone, with certain exceptions.
See discussion above about schools and educational property.
Enhanced licensee carry can be prohibited from firearm-related events but not from non-firearm-related events.
What about special stadium rules such as at collegiate stadiums?
Cannot prohibit enhanced licensees from carrying concealed firearm in public parks.
Cannot prohibit open carry. See Preemption discussion and preceding point for licensed concealed carry.
Purse carry, as a special exception to the licensing scheme, is essentially treated the same as open carry.
Can prohibit “regular” licensees from carrying in government meetings (but not outside the time of the actual meeting) pursuant to Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-53(f)(i).
Can prohibit open carry (and “purse carry”) in accordance with iss. Code Ann. § 45-9-53(f)(i) and constitutional requirements.
An established sport shooting range that is not in violation of a state law or an ordinance prior to the enactment of a new ordinance may continue in operation even if, at or after the time of the enactment of the new ordinance, the operation of the sport shooting range is not in compliance with the new ordinance.
No new ordinance shall prohibit an established sport shooting range that is in existence on March 31, 2008, from repairing or expanding its facilities and membership.
MS Const. Art. 3, Sec. 12.

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