Judge declares Miss. open-carry gun law unconstitutionally vague

Published 2:12 pm Friday, July 12, 2013

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A Hinds County circuit judge has extended his hold on Mississippi’s open-carry gun law, declaring it unconstitutionally vague.

Judge Winston Kidd on Friday put a permanent injunction on that law Friday. But, Attorney General Jim Hood is expected to appeal that decision to the state Supreme Court.

On June 28, Kidd put a hold on the law, two days before it was supposed to take effect.

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Click here for a pdf of Judge Kidd’s ruling

Earlier this year, legislators passed and Gov. Phil Bryant signed House Bill 2, which says adults don’t need a permit to carry a gun that’s not concealed.

The Hinds County district attorney and some constables had sued to block the law, saying they feared people could become trigger-happy and put law-enforcement officers and civilians in danger.