Judge rules against new Miss. gun law

JACKSON — A state judge has blocked a Mississippi open-carry gun law from taking effect Monday.

Circuit Judge Winston Kidd ruled that the law is vague and an injunction is needed to stop irreparable harm.

Hinds County Dist. Atty. Robert Shuler Smith requested the injunction, and Kidd granted it during an emergency hearing late Friday. Kidd will hear more arguments July 8.

House Bill 2 clarifies that people don’t need any kind of state-issued permit to carry a gun that’s not concealed.

The bill’s main sponsor, Republican Rep. Andy Gipson of Braxton, says the law simply restates the state constitution’s right to bear arms. But some sheriffs and police chiefs worry people could become triggerhappy and hurt civilians or law-enforcement officers.

The attorney general’s office defended the law, saying a challenge came too late.

Elected and law enforce- ment officials throughout the state, including in DeSoto County, have been preparing for how to deal with the law.