Senate Bill 2627

AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 97-37-39, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CRIMINALIZE THE MANUFACTURE, POSSESSION AND USE OF MACHINE GUN CONVERSION DEVICES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. The following section shall be codified as Section 97-37-39, Mississippi Code of 1972:

97-37-39. (1) (a) Any person who manufactures, possesses, or uses a machine gun conversion device and who is not otherwise authorized by federal law to manufacture, possess or use a machine gun conversion device shall be guilty of a felony.

(b) For purposes of this act, the following terms shall have the meanings described herein:

(i) "Machine gun conversion" means and includes devices that convert ordinary semiautomatic firearms into fully automatic machine guns, which may include, but shall not be limited to "Glock switches" or "auto-sears".

(ii) Machine gun means and includes:

1. Any weapon which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily restored to shoot, automatically more than one (1) shot without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger;

2. The frame or receiver of any such weapon;

3. Any part designed and intended solely and exclusively or combination of parts designed and intended for use in converting a weapon into a machine gun; or

4. Any combination of parts from which a machine gun can be assembled if such parts are in the possession or under the control of a person.

(2) Any person convicted of a first offense in violation of this act shall be guilty of a felony, and shall be sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not more than ten (10) years, fined not more than Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00), or both.

(3) A person convicted of a second or subsequent offense shall be charged with a felony under this act and shall be sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not more than fifteen (15) years, fined not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or both.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.