Friday, Governor Phil Bryant signed House Bill 786, the “Mississippi Church Protection Act.”
According to the bill, if a person, while acting as a participant of a church or place of worship or worship security team kills a person, then under the new law that act would be considered a justifiable homicide.
The bill allows for leaders in churches and other places of worship to establish a security program. Designated members who are authorized to carry firearms will do so for the protection of the congregation. Members of the security program will be immune from civil liability for any action taken by a member of the security program if the action in question occurs while they are performing their official duties, the bill states.
According to the bill, security team members must possess a firearm permit and complete an instructional course in the safe handling and use of firearms.
In a post on Twitter, Bryant said, “Churches deserve protection from those who would harm worshippers. That’s why I signed HB 786.”
Read the bill in its entirety at http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2016/pdf/HB/0700-0799/HB0786SG.pdf.