MS HB1445

Amends Section 97-37-35 of the Mississippi Code to require "reasonable grounds to believe that the firearm was stolen" as an element for prosecuting possession, receipt, retention, or disposition of a stolen firearm.

Adds the same reasonable belief standard to the offense of selling, delivering, or transferring a stolen firearm.

Establishes penalties: first conviction results in 5 years in the Department of Corrections; second and subsequent convictions are treated as trafficking in stolen firearms with a minimum 15-year sentence.

Creates an additional offense of trafficking in stolen firearms with a mandatory minimum 15-year sentence when a person possesses 2 or more stolen firearms.

Imposes a consecutive 5-year sentence for anyone committing another crime while in possession of a stolen firearm, with the sentence running consecutively rather than concurrently with other sentences.

Effective date: July 1, 2020.