Otis Sanford on Mississippi Open Carry Law

SUPREME COURT RULED A HINDS COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE ERRED WHEN HE GRANTED A MOTION DELAYING HOUSE BILL 2 FROM TAKING EFFECT. OUR OTIS SANFORD HAS REACTION ON THE RULING. THE ISSUE OVER CARRYING GUNS OPENLY IN MISSISSIPPI WITHOUT A PERMIT HAS BEEN SETTLED. THE STATES SUPREME COURT SAYS ITS OK. THE COURT STRUCK DOWN AN INJUNCTION ISSUED BY A HINDS COUNTY CIRCUIT JUDGE - THAT HAD PREVENTED THE OPEN-CARRY GUN LAW FROM GOING INTO EFFECT. SO AS OF NOW, ANYONE IN THE STATE CAN WALK AROUND IN PUBLIC - WITH A LOADED GUN SHOWING. HOWS THAT FOR A PROGRESSIVE MISSISSIPPI? DEFENDERS OF THIS LAW SAY IT MERELY ALLOWS SOMETHING THATS BEEN PART OF THE STATE CONSTITUTION FOR OVER ONE HUNDRED YEARS. AND OBVIOUSLY THE SUPREME COURT AGREES. BUT THATS NOT THE POINT. THE POINT IS, OPENLY CARRYING GUNS IN PUBLIC WITHOUT A PERMIT IS DANGEROUS. AND CREATES MORE HEADACHES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT. JUST THIS WEEK, NORTH MISSISSIPPI DISTRICT ATTORNEY JOHN CHAMPION WENT BEFORE THE MEDIA - TO TALK ABOUT THE GROWING PROBLEM OF GANG VIOLENCE IN SMALL TOWNS SUCH CLARKSDALE, COMO AND SARDIS. NOW, THANKS THIS GOOFY LAW, THESE GANGBANGERS THEORETICALLY CAN WALK AROUND WITH WEAPONS VISIBLE ON THEIR HIP. JUST LIKE JESSE JAMES AND THE DALTON GANG. FIREARMS REMAIN OFF LIMITS AT GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS - INCLUDING SCHOOLS. AND PRIVATE BUSINESSES CAN POST SIGNS BANNING WEAPONS IN THEIR ESTABLISHMENTS. BUT DESPITE WHAT THE CONSTITUTION OR THE SUPREME COURT SAYS, ALLOWING ANYONE TO OPENLY CARRY GUNS IN PUBLIC WITHOUT A PERMIT - IS A BAD IDEA, PERIOD. AND IT ADDS TO MISSISSIPPIS REPUTATION - AS A BACKWARDS STATE. THATS MY POINT OF VIEW. IM OTIS SANFORD, WREG NEWS CHANNEL 3, THE MEMPHIS STATION THATS ON YOUR SIDE.