Article first appeared at NRA-ILA.

Today, Governor Phil Bryant (R) signed House Bill 786 into law, despite months of misleading attacks by New York gun control advocate and billionaire Michael Bloomberg & his anti-gun state groups, Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action.  NRA-ILA issued the following press release announcing that final executive action had taken place on the measure Friday morning.  Thank you to those NRA members and Second Amendment supporters who contacted their elected officials in support of HB 786 throughout the legislative process!

House Bill 786 by State Rep. Andy Gipson (R-Braxton) accomplishes the following:

• Expands current permitless carry options to include belt and shoulder holsters.  (Legislation passed in 2015 authorized Mississippians who are eligible to possess a firearm under state and federal law to carry a pistol or revolver without a license in purses, handbags, satchels, other similar bags or briefcases or fully enclosed cases);
• Allows church authorities to develop security programs that designate enhanced carry permit holders or those with military or law enforcement backgrounds to protect places of worship and receive the benefits of existing protections under the state’s “Castle Doctrine” law; and
• Prohibits state or local enforcement of federal executive orders or agency regulations not approved by Congress which conflict with the Constitution of the United States or the Mississippi Constitution.

Mississippi became the ninth state to pass legislation recognizing a law-abiding adult’s ability to carry a concealed pistol or revolver for personal protection without government-mandated permitting or fees.  The new law takes effect immediately.

Governor Bryant also recently signed two other NRA-supported measures into law: Senate Bill 2313, sponsored by state Senator Sean Tindell (R-Gulfport), which eliminates the redundant, unnecessary and rarely-enforced requirement that lawful owners of firearm sound suppressors register those items with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety; and House Bill 1300, sponsored by state Representative Joey Hood (R-Ackerman), which expands legal protections for shooting ranges in the state.  Please take a moment to email Governor Bryantand thank him for taking final action on these measures!