AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON WHO IS THE SUBJECT OF CERTAIN DOMESTIC RESTRAINING ORDERS OR WHO HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF A MISDEMEANOR CRIME OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO POSSESS ANY FIREARM OR AMMUNITION; TO PROVIDE A CRIMINAL PENALTY; TO AMEND SECTION 93219, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT A PETITIONER WHO REQUESTS THE REMOVAL OF FIREARMS OR AMMUNITION FROM AN INDIVIDUAL ALLEGED TO HAVE COMMITTED ABUSE AS RELIEF IN A DOMESTIC ABUSE PROTECTION ORDER SHALL STATE THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MERIT SUCH RELIEF WITH PARTICULARITY; TO REQUIRE THE MISSISSIPPI JUDICIAL COLLEGE TO ANNUALLY REVIEW THE STANDARDIZED FORM REQUIRED UNDER THIS SECTION AND DISTRIBUTE ANY REVISED FORM TO THE COURTS; TO AMEND SECTION 932115, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE A COURT IN A TEMPORARY OR FINAL DOMESTIC ABUSE PROTECTION ORDER TO ORDER LAW ENFORCEMENT TO REMOVE A RESPONDENT'S FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION FOR THE DURATION OF THE ORDER WHERE A SEPARATE FINDING HAS BEEN MADE THAT THE RESPONDENT'S CONTINUED RETENTION OF FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION POSES A RISK TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE PETITIONER, ANY MINOR CHILDREN, OR ANY PERSON ALLEGED TO BE INCOMPETENT; TO AMEND SECTION 932125, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE CLERK OF THE ISSUING COURT TO ENTER ORDERS REQUIRING THE REMOVAL OF FIREARMS INTO THE MISSISSIPPI PROTECTION ORDER REGISTRY WITHIN 12 HOURS OF ISSUANCE; TO ALLOW DELIVERY OF A COPY TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IN ELECTRONIC FORMAT; TO REQUIRE THE CLERK OF THE ISSUING COURT TO HAND DELIVER THE COPY OF THE ORDER IF THE RECEIPT OF THE COPY IN ELECTRONIC FORMAT IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WITHIN 12 HOURS OF TRANSMITTAL; TO AMEND SECTION 932127, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE A PRESUMPTION OF GOOD FAITH TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS REMOVING FIREARMS PURSUANT TO A PROTECTION ORDER; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
SB 2339 would expand Mississippi’s domestic violence and protection-order laws to restrict firearm and ammunition possession by two categories of people: those subject to certain qualifying domestic restraining orders and those convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. The bill makes possession of firearms or ammunition by those persons unlawful and sets a criminal penalty of a fine up to $10,000, imprisonment for 2 to 10 years, or both.
The bill also revises the domestic abuse protection order process to make firearm-removal relief more explicit and operational. Petitioners seeking firearm or ammunition removal would have to state the supporting facts and circumstances with particularity, though that pleading requirement would not prevent a court from ordering the relief. Courts issuing temporary or final domestic abuse protection orders could order law enforcement to remove firearms and ammunition when the court makes a separate finding that continued possession poses a risk to the petitioner, minor children, or an incompetent person, and could also prohibit possession or purchase for the duration of the order after removal has been ordered.
SB 2339 would amend multiple sections of the Mississippi Code governing domestic abuse protection orders and the Mississippi Protection Order Registry. It would add a new criminal offense for firearm or ammunition possession by persons under qualifying domestic violence-related court orders or with misdemeanor domestic violence convictions, and it would strengthen court authority to order firearm removal and possession bans in temporary and final protection orders. The bill also accelerates registry processing for firearm-removal orders, requiring entry within 12 hours, allows electronic transmission to sheriffs, and requires hand delivery if electronic receipt is not acknowledged promptly. In addition, it creates a presumption that officers removing firearms under a protection order are acting in good faith, which reduces civil-liability exposure for enforcement actions.
The bill’s overall posture is protective and enforcement-oriented, reflecting a legislative intent to reduce domestic violence risk by limiting access to firearms in high-risk situations. Based on the bill text and caption, the measure appears designed to align Mississippi’s protection-order procedures with stronger firearm-removal and enforcement mechanisms. No committee transcript or vote history was provided, so there is no recorded debate or roll-call evidence here of support or opposition beyond the bill’s stated policy direction.
The main points of potential contention are the firearm restrictions and the extent of judicial and law-enforcement authority to remove weapons. Supporters would likely emphasize victim safety, quicker registry notification, and clearer enforcement tools, while critics may focus on due-process concerns, the breadth of firearm disqualification, and the practical burdens on courts, clerks, and sheriffs. Another possible issue is the requirement that petitioners plead firearm-removal facts with particularity, which suggests concern about ensuring a specific evidentiary basis for that relief even as the bill preserves judicial discretion to order it without a specific request.