The trend among gun fanatics of openly carrying assault weapons and other firearms into stores and restaurants could spread to polling places around Mississippi in November. The key here is that gun owners must wear the weapon so it is visible to everyone, says Attorney General Jim Hood, who this week replied in the affirmative to a query on guns in the voting booth. “The Legislature has given no authority to counties or municipalities by any statute to restrict open carrying of weapons into polling places,” Hood said. He emphasized, however, that gun owners may have to ask permission of the property owner if the polling place is on private property such as a church. High security government buildings may also be off limits to gun toters.
Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange affirmed the right of Alabama voters to open carry guns into most polling places followed an Alabama Sheriffs Association plea to the state’s counties to keep unconcealed weapons from polling places.
Voting officials turned away several gun owners for bringing visible firearms into polling places. Attorney General Strange reacted after those entry denials.
Like Hood, Strange was empathic in his message to Alabama voters. “The state Legislature has already said where guns cannot be openly displayed and polling places are not on the list,” said in a statement published by the New York Times.
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