Jackson Mayor Uses COVID-19 to Ban Open Carry, Calls For Its Full Repeal in Mississippi

Never let a crisis go to waste.

In this vein, the mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, has banned open carry in his city during an emergency order regarding Covid-19. The ban on open carry was largely a flex of authority, but Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba is hoping to leverage this stunt into a statewide prohibition.

“It is this call to action that has led to my decision to issue an Executive Order suspending Open Carry law during the Covid-19 civil emergency. Under State Statutes 45-17-7(e), I am given the discretion in the interest of public safety and welfare to issue such orders that are necessary for the protection of life and property,” he said.

“While this order will only be in effect for a short period of time, I am calling on all Jackson residents, and all state and local leaders to act in the interest of our innocent children,” he continued. “Repeal the Open Carry law which makes it impossible for law enforcement to root out illegal firearms on our streets.”

It didn’t take long for state officials to dash his hopes. In a strongly-worded letter sent on Sunday, State Attorney General Lynn Fitch called for him to “immediately” pull the ban.

“Mississippians enjoy the right to lawfully open carry in all of Mississippi’s 82 counties and in every municipality within the State. The City of Jackson is no exception. The City lacks statutory authority to suspend a state statute or constitutional provision. Accordingly, I ask that you rescind the Order immediately,” wrote Fitch.

“I take seriously my obligation to protect Mississippians’ constitutional rights, and I will take every action available to my office to ensure these rights are not infringed upon,” Fitch added.

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