JACKSON, Miss.–Gun violence is the reason some people were protesting a gun show on Mississippi’s first-ever tax-free holiday for hunting-related supplies. The group included Hinds County Supervisor Kenneth Stokes, who led the chant “Try Jesus, not guns”.
Business was brisk inside for the tradesmen at the Mississippi Trade Mart. Outside several people held up signs and shouted at cars and trucks pulling in to do business.
“We need to send a message in this community that we’re sick and tired of gun violence,” said Stokes, “and we’re sick and tired of having all these funerals.”
Stokes said he believes that criminals attend gun shows and buy their weapons and ammo there, and that having events like Mississippi’s tax-free weekend helps promote illegal activity.
“We do believe that gun runners get guns at these gun shows, take ’em and sell them in these inner city neighborhoods, give ’em to dope boys.”
The gun sellers do conduct background checks before selling the weapons, said some of the vendors. Numbers were not in yet on how much business the weekend brought to the state.
LINK: Related article: /second-amendment-sales-tax-holiday-hunting-gear-tax-free-weekend/
