Jackson State University News January 22, 2014 JSU Institute of Government hosts Jan. 29 public forum on Mississippi’s open carry gun laws Jackson State University’s Institute of Government will host a public forum and present research on Mississippi’s “Castle Doctrine” and open carry gun laws on Jan. 29, at the JSU Student Center Theater, 2nd floor, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The event, held from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., will feature panelists Terry Wallace, the former city attorney for the City of Jackson, and Jim Mozingo, a former assistant city attorney for the City of Jackson. The forum also will include commentary and viewpoints from clergy, law enforcement, the Mississippi Attorney General’s office, legislators, public service agencies and students. “Since the passage of the laws, there’s been a lengthy debate about public safety and the rights of citizens. The forum will evaluate whether there’s a need for continuous discussion over these laws,” said Dr. Otha Burton, executive director of the Institute of Government. Wallace presently serves as a criminal prosecutor with the 22nd Circuit Court District of Mississippi. He also is an adjunct professor in Urban and Regional Planning at JSU. Mozingo is the managing member of MOZINGO/QUARLES, PLLC, a Mississippi law firm with a practice focused on business and commercial transactions and litigation and debtor-creditor rights. Mississippi adopted its Castle Doctrine law in 2006 as an amendment to the state’s justifiable homicide law. The amendment provided key provisions in which residents can use deadly force. The open carry gun law was passed in 2013. Several officials sued to block the law, but the state Supreme Court upheld the measure. Under the law, adults do not need permits to carry a gun that is not concealed. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.