Read the full stored bill text
S. B. No. 2790 *SS08/R387* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS08/R387
PAGE 1 (ens\kr)
To: Judiciary, Division B
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Senator(s) Norwood
SENATE BILL NO. 2790
AN ACT TO ENACT THE RESPONSIBLE FIREARM PURCHASING ACT TO 1
PROHIBIT THE PURCHASE OF A FIREARM BY A MINOR; TO DEFINE TERMS; TO 2
PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR A MINOR TO PURCHASE A FIREARM, 3
HANDGUN, AMMUNITION OR ARMOR PIERCING AMMUNITION; TO PROVIDE THAT 4
IT IS UNLAWFUL TO SELL A MINOR A FIREARM, HANDGUN, AMMUNITION OR 5
ARMOR PIERCING AMMUNITION; TO PROVIDE THAT THE SALE OF A FIREARM, 6
HANDGUN, AMMUNITION OR ARMOR PIERCING AMMUNITION SHALL COMPLY WITH 7
ALL STANDARDS AS PROVIDED BY FEDERAL AND STATE LAW; TO PROVIDE 8
CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED 9
PURPOSES. 10
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 11
SECTION 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the 12
"Responsible Firearm Purchasing Act." 13
SECTION 2. As used in this act, the following terms shall 14
have the meanings ascribed herein unless the context indicates 15
otherwise: 16
(a) "Ammunition" means ammunition or cartridge cases, 17
primers, bullets or propellent powder designed for use in any 18
firearm. 19
(b) "Armor piercing ammunition" means: 20
(i) A projectile or projectile core which may be 21
used in a handgun and which is constructed entirely (excluding the 22
S. B. No. 2790 *SS08/R387* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS08/R387
PAGE 2 (ens\kr)
presence of traces of other substances) from one (1) or a 23
combination of tungsten alloys, steel, iron, brass, bronze, 24
beryllium copper or depleted uranium; or 25
(ii) A full jacketed projectile larger than .22 26
caliber designed and intended for use in a handgun and whose 27
jacket has a weight of more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the 28
total weight of the projectile. 29
The term "armor piercing ammunition" does not include shotgun 30
shot required by federal or state environmental or game 31
regulations for hunting purposes, a frangible projectile designed 32
for target shooting, a projectile which the Attorney General finds 33
is primarily intended to be used for sporting purposes, or any 34
other projectile or projectile core which the Attorney General 35
finds is intended to be used for industrial purposes, including a 36
charge used in an oil and gas well perforating device. 37
(c) "Antique firearm" shall have the meaning provided 38
in the United State Code. 39
(d) "Firearm" means: 40
(i) Any weapon (including a starter gun) which 41
will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a 42
projectile by the action of an explosive; 43
(ii) The frame or receiver of any such weapon; 44
(iii) Any firearm muffler or firearm silencer; or 45
(iv) Any destructive device. 46
The term "firearm" does not include an antique firearm. 47
S. B. No. 2790 *SS08/R387* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS08/R387
PAGE 3 (ens\kr)
(e) The terms "firearm silencer" and "firearm muffler" 48
mean any device for silencing, muffling, or diminishing the report 49
of a portable firearm, including any combination of parts, 50
designed or redesigned, and intended for use in assembling or 51
fabricating a firearm silencer or firearm muffler, and any part 52
intended only for use in such assembly or fabrication. 53
(f) The term "handgun" means: 54
(i) A firearm which has a short stock and is 55
designed to be held and fired by the use of a single hand; and 56
(ii) Any combination of parts from which a firearm 57
described in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph can be assembled. 58
SECTION 3. (1) It shall be unlawful for a minor in this 59
state to purchase a firearm, handgun, ammunition or armor piercing 60
ammunition. 61
(2) It shall be unlawful to sell a minor in this state a 62
firearm, handgun, ammunition or armor piercing ammunition. 63
SECTION 4. The purchase of a firearm, handgun, ammunition or 64
armor piercing ammunition shall comply with all standards as 65
provided by federal and state law. 66
SECTION 5. A minor who violates Section 2 of this act shall 67
be guilty of a misdemeanor. Upon adjudication, the minor shall be 68
fined no more than Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) or subject to a 69
term of imprisonment no longer than thirty (30) days, or both. 70
SECTION 6. A person who is twenty-one (21) years old or 71
older and violates Section 2 or 3 of this act shall be guilty of a 72
S. B. No. 2790 *SS08/R387* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS08/R387
PAGE 4 (ens\kr)
ST: Responsible Firearm Purchasing Act; enact.
felony. Upon conviction, the defendant shall be fined no more 73
than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) or subject to a term of 74
imprisonment of no longer than two (2) years in the custody of the 75
Department of Corrections, or both. 76
SECTION 7. This act shall take effect and be in force from 77
and after July 1, 2026. 78