City of Meridian Spotlights New Machine Gun Conversion Device Law

MERIDIAN, Miss. – Meridian Police Chief Deborah Naylor-Young and Acting Capt. Dareall Thompson provided the following information on a recently enacted law regarding the manufacture, possession and use of machine gun conversion devices.

The Meridian Police Department would like the public to be aware of Mississippi Statute 97-37-39 regarding production, possession and use machine gun conversion devices known as switches.

Beginning July 1, 2024, Meridian residents who activate the switches on semi-automatic firearms, causing them to fire multiple shots simultaneously and functioning like a machine gun, will be charged accordingly.

“Those who are causing chaos in the city of Meridian should be aware that the Meridian Police Department will be charging anyone involved in shootings involving these modified switch-action weapons,” Young said.

The fees are as follows:

• The penalty for a first offense conviction is a felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

• The penalty for a second or subsequent conviction of the offense is a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $20,000.00.

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