When asked to choose between a Christian spirit of peace and a "God-given right" of self-defense, Mississippi Senators overpoweringly favoured "God-given right" of self-defense. The State Senate even voted 36-14, permitting armed security in churches.
According to Yahoo! News, the State Senate passed voted 36-14 in passing the House Bill 786. This legislation is known as the Mississippi Church Protection Act.
The Senators even sent back the House Bill to the House counterparts for further work. Under House Bill 786, places of worship could assign members to undergo firearms training. The designated members are also allowed to carry guns to protect the congregation.
The Dailymail UK reported that the bill would go beyond the church security. Also, it would expand last year's law allowing people to carry guns in holster without a state concealed weapons permit, which is an aspect that attracts criticisms.
It would also assert that no state official can enforce any federal executive or administrative order that defies the constitutions of Mississippi or of the U.S. But it poses a challenge to the principle that federal law overrides the state law.
There are ongoing debates over the bill, including clashing interpretations of Christian scripture, and questions of what Jesus would do. Senator Hillman Frazier even told the story of Jesus healing the high priest's servant after a disciple cut off the servant's ear as Jesus was under arrest.
"We don't need to pimp the church for political purposes," Frazier stated. He also added, "If you want to pass a bill liberalizing gun laws, then do that. Don't use the church."
However, Senate Judiciary A Committee Chairman Sean Tindell, which is a Republican from Gulfport, claimed that congregations actually need legal protection after last summer's mass shooting that killed 9 people at a church in Charleston, South Carolina. He even said, "The self-defense of these churches is a God-given right."
A part of the bill that lowers the requirements for concealed carry permits also drew criticisms from the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police. Executive Director Ken Winter also noted that the stipulation would make it harder to stop people who appear to be engaged in wrongdoing. He also emphasized that the bill could even increase the "threat level" to officers, as claimed by ABC NEWS.
Meanwhile, a debate has also erupted over whether federal regulations could override Mississippi's constitution. The Federal counts have also ruled that rules passed by the agencies, even if laws not passed by the Congress, countermand the state law.
