JACKSON — Attorney General Lynn Fitch praised the passage into law of Senate Bill 2710, the centerpiece of her 2026 legislative agenda, which directly addresses gang violence plaguing communities across Mississippi by:
• Moving crimes of violence committed with a firearm out of youth court and into circuit court jurisdiction;
• Increasing penalties for transferring a stolen firearm to a minor;
• Increasing penalties when a stolen firearm is used in a crime of violence — including up to 40 years when used in a murder; and
• Establishing a new crime for shooting into a crowd, with heightened penalties if the gathering is at a place of worship, courthouse, school, playground or park, if there are minors (under 18 years of age) present, or if the offender is a member of a gang.
This bill was endorsed by the Mississippi Prosecutors Association, the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police, the Mississippi Municipal League (MML), and the Mississippi Sheriffs' Association.
"There are more than 200 gangs in Mississippi, and they recruit minors to do a lot of their dirty work, knowing that punishment is often disproportionate to the severity of the crime," said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. "And now the penalty fits the crime, both making juvenile recruitment less attractive to gangs and getting dangerous criminals off the street. This new law also directly addresses the kind of violence that struck high school and college football games and homecoming celebrations this past October, killing nearly a dozen people and injuring dozens more. Celebrations like those should bring communities together, not tear them apart."
Bryan Buckley, president of the Mississippi Prosecutors Association and assistant district attorney for the 12th Circuit Court District, said, "The passage of this law will greatly assist law enforcement and prosecutors in curbing gun violence by minors and those who supply these minors with firearms, and will help protect the citizens of Mississippi. I applaud the Legislature in passing this Bill and am grateful it was signed by the governor."
Noted Billy Seal, president of the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police and the Long Beach chief of police, added, "The passage of SB2710 is a critical step forward in addressing the growing threat of gang-related violence across Mississippi. This legislation provides law enforcement with stronger tools to hold offenders accountable and protect our communities, particularly our youth. The establishment of a new offense for shooting into a crowd especially in sensitive locations such as schools, places of worship, and community gatherings addresses a deeply troubling pattern of violence that has impacted families and communities across our state. On behalf of the Chiefs Association, I commend Attorney General Lynn Fitch and our legislative leaders for their dedication to protecting Mississippi’s citizens. We stand ready to continue working collaboratively to ensure the safety and security of every community we serve."
“With the unfortunate rise in youth and gang related crime in municipalities, the members of MML are thankful for the attorney general's work in getting SB2710 passed. This law will give much needed help to our cities, towns, and villages as they work to address youth gun violence to improve public safety for their citizens,” said Shari T. Veazey, MML executive director.
SB 2710 was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Joey Fillingane and was signed into law. This bill is one of several from Fitch’s legislative agenda that became law this year. In addition, two bills strengthening Mississippi’s response to human trafficking and one enhancing child support enforcement are now law.
