in the heart of Mississippi, the most permissive state for carrying firearms

In Jackson, the chances of dying from gunfire are six to seven times higher than in New York or Los Angeles. At almost every check, the police seize a firearm. As night falls, a wrong-way vehicle is stopped. The police found a loaded assault rifle, a pistol, and small quantities of drugs. “We do this type of seizure every day”explains Captain Warren Hull.

Gun violence makes headlines almost every day. Most often with perfectly legal weapons because Mississippi is the most permissive state in this area. A simple criminal record check is enough to leave with a rifle and resell it without any formality.

In Jackson, one in four residents lives below the poverty line, and many teenagers are out of school. The prevention work of the “Operation Good” association is not always enough. The parents of Anthony Lindsey, shot dead three years ago amid romantic rivalry, feel that nothing is being done to change things. Calls for more gun controls remain unanswered by authorities, as 2024 is poised to become one of the deadliest years in recent Mississippi history.

Watch the entire report in the video above