Jackson Free Press

Contrary to the popular belief held in some corners of Mississippi, kids who say a prayer before class won't become the targets of Obama administration drone attacks. Still, some Mississippi legislators want to make sure prayer has a legal place in public schools.

The Constitution already permits students to pray at school, but SB 2633 would extend the right in Mississippi to student-led prayer to "limited public forums" such as athletic events, commencement ceremonies and morning announcements. Sponsored by Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Ellisville, the bill would also prohibit schools from punishing kids who pray or express religious viewpoints in class work.

Bear Atwood, legal director of the Mississippi ACLU, said that the law could be an end-run around the prohibition on school-led religious expression. Not only does she believe schools would eventually encourage students to participate, but also that broadcasting over loud speakers would be an unconstitutional use of school time and resources.

"Every child in the school, regardless of their religion, is going to hear it," Atwood said.

It's a road Mississippi has been down before. In 1996, a federal court ruled that Pontotoc County School District could not broadcast prayers over its schools' public-address systems.

U.S. District Court Judge Neal Biggers Jr. ruled that the practices of the Pontotoc County schools were an unconstitutional violation of the First Amendment's separation of church and state provisions.

Besides, Atwood adds: "Parents have a right to direct who gives their children religious education."

Most Gun Bills Shot Down

The smoke has cleared on the blaze of more than 30 gun-related bills introduced since the start of the legislative session.

Now, just only a handful of gun bills remain. Most notably, HB 485, would exempt conceal-carry permits from the state's public-records laws.

"Simply because the document is in possession of the government does not, in my mind, make it a public document," the bill's sponsor, Rep. Mark Baker, R-Brandon, told the Associated Press in January. Baker's bill is now before the Senate, where rapid passage is expected.

Other gun bills include HB 958, sponsored by Rep. Bubba Carpenter, which would permit two staff members per school to have a concealed firearm on school grounds.

Rep. Mark Formby, R-Picayune, sponsored one of the last remaining bills directing Mississippi to ignore federal law.

HB 625 nullifies federal laws seeking to regulate guns, ammo and accessories and provides penalties for violating the act. Finally, a bill from Rep. Andy Gipson, R-Braxton, would exempt sales tax on firearms and ammunition during Mississippi Second Amendment Weekend in September

An Outlet for Tax Dollars

What some people consider a retail oasis now under construction received a boost courtesy of Mississippi taxpayers.

Last week, the Mississippi Senate passed a bill to give $24 million in tax credits to the developers of Outlets at Bloomfield, a 325,000-square-foot shopping center near where interstates 55 and 20 meet in Pearl.

Sen. Dean Kirby, R-Pearl and sponsor of the bill said the project would generate between 1,500 and 1,600 jobs, plus another 300 temporary jobs for construction workers.

Kirby added that the 80-plus shops, located next to Bass Pro Shops and the Mississippi Braves stadium, would include Saks Fifth Avenue, Banana Republic and Coach, among other high-end retailers, and the jobs would pay an average wage of $13 per hour for sales associates.

Sen. Hob Bryan, D-Amory, praised the project as a potential economic boon, but questioned whether giving tax incentives to a company that has already begun work is a good investment.

"If we're going to give $24 million to this development, how do we say no to the next company that comes along and wants help with their shopping center?" Bryan asked.

Bryan said the new shopping center would simply reshuffle retail activity in the Jackson metro rather than create new demand for services. He added that the state "gave away the country store and the back 40 and everything else" to attract carmakers Nissan and Toyota and their automobile plants into Mississippi.

Kirby responded by predicted that the shopping center would generate more money in economic activity that what the state is investing.

Yates also built the Nissan plant in Canton and the Beau Rivage casino in less than one year.

"If we pass this bill, you can be shopping there in November," Kirby told his fellow senators.

Comment at www.jfp.ms. Email R.L. Nave at [email protected].