Nationwide — A new Mississippi law will require teens who commit gun crimes to be charged as adults starting July 1, sending cases straight to circuit court. However, Rep. Fabian Nelson, who is Black, has opposed the measure and is strongly pushing for alternatives.
The law applies to anyone 18 and under who commits a crime using a firearm. Under Senate Bill 2710, those cases will automatically move out of the juvenile system and proceed through adult criminal court.
State Sen. Joey Fillingane, who sponsored the bill, said lawmakers want to make the consequences unmistakable. He said the intent is to “send a very loud message” about how seriously Mississippi treats gun crimes involving minors.
“Before you commit this act, before you go down this road, you need to know the consequences of that is very severe,” Fillingane said, according to WLBT.
The law also expands penalties for adults who provide guns to minors. Anyone who sells a stolen firearm to a teenager can face up to 20 years in prison. If that gun is later used in a crime, the penalty can increase to 30 years, and up to 40 years if it is used in a homicide.
Tougher sentencing also applies to specific shooting situations. Firing into a crowd of two or more people carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison. If the shooting happens near a school, church, or courthouse, the sentence can reach up to 20 years.
The law adds even tougher consequences in higher-risk cases. If a minor is present in the crowd, or if the shooter is identified as a gang member, the law allows sentences of up to 30 years.
Rep. Fabian Nelson opposed the bill and argued that judges should retain discretion in juvenile cases. He pushed for more intervention programs, alternative sentencing, and support systems for at-risk youth instead of automatic adult charges.
“We need to figure out how we’re able to get our youth into programs that can alleviate this, alternative sentence programs and things, second chance programs, those are things we can go in and find exactly what our troubled teens need, and also, holding parents and guardians accountable,” Nelson said.