Mississippi bill would let churches create gun squads exempt from prosecution
Nothing says holy like a squad of gunmen firing at will without fear of prosecution.
A bill just passed by the Mississippi Senate would allow churches across the state to create armed security groups who are not subject to legal action if they choose to use their weapons in the "reasonable exercise" of their duties as church security guards.
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Churches would have to provide training for guards before handing them a weapon.
"This will allow a church to have a sergeant-at-arms to protect the church body," State Sen. Sean Tindell said.
The bill, called the Mississippi Church Protection Act, also includes two other provisions -- one that that would make it legal for Mississippians to carry a holstered gun without a permit, and another that would prevent Mississippi from enforcing any national gun laws that Congress did not approve (meaning executive actions).
State Sen. Hob Bryan seemed exasperated that some of his colleagues felt that state law could trump its federal counterpart, saying that the debate over enforcement of gun laws was "like arguing whether the freezing point of water is 32 degrees Fahrenheit."
But the bill passed 36-14, and will now head to the House for further deliberation.
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Colin is Mashable's US & World Reporter. He previously interned at Foreign Policy magazine and The American Prospect. Colin is a graduate from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. When he's not at Mashable, you can most likely find him eating or playing some kind of sport.
