Ag Commish Andy Gipson penned this guest column.
Now that the dust has settled on the 2023 Mississippi Legislature’s Regular Session, I believe I can speak for a majority of law-abiding Mississippians in commending our Legislature for passing House Bill 1020, and I appreciate Governor Reeves for signing it into law. This bill, authored by Representatives Trey Lamar, Fred Shanks, and Price Wallace can go a long way toward helping restore law and order within the City of Jackson, Mississippi.
Among other things, the bill expands the Capitol Complex Improvement District (CCID), enabling Capitol Police to patrol as an added law enforcement agency throughout the area. These officers will have the necessary authority to respond to crimes in the CCID area, thereby serving as an additional deterrent to criminal activity across the Jackson area. In addition, special judges appointed by the Supreme Court, additional district attorneys, and additional public defenders are authorized to handle a backlog of cases so that rulings and dispositions may be made in a timely manner in response to various crimes and issues brought before them. A special CCID Inferior Court is created to help address a backlog in criminal cases in the area. A 911 system is authorized to be developed by the Department of Public Safety to assist the public in receiving assistance from law enforcement agencies. Each of these actions will be significant. When implemented together, these measures should provide the citizens of Jackson a ray of hope that the reign of terror by criminals, thugs, and gangsters must come to an end.
With multiple agencies working together throughout the CCID, good things can happen when the law is enforced consistently and when the judicial system holds wrongdoers accountable. Law and order can be restored.
As the host facility for the state’s largest events, the Mississippi State Fairgrounds is located in our capital city. During the 2022 Mississippi State Fair, we developed a multi-agency task force and security plan that involved multiple layers of law enforcement – Jackson Police Department, Hinds County Sheriff’s Office, Capitol Police, State Troopers, and other state and local law enforcement agencies. Working together, we were able to host the safest State Fair in America right here on the Fairgrounds in Jackson, Mississippi. In February, we had an incident-free Dixie National Rodeo using the same techniques. It is costly, and it is not easy, but we know it can be done.
I have read the various media reports, and I understand that not everyone is happy about House Bill 1020. But personally, I cannot take anyone seriously who complains about these basic law enforcement measures designed to help restore a level of peace throughout Jackson’s CCID. On a daily basis, Mississippians are bombarded with the news reports of crime and danger in Jackson, Mississippi. People from every corner of Mississippi are afraid to travel to Jackson, and I don’t blame them. The statistics prove that their concerns are well-founded, but House Bill 1020 directly addresses those concerns.
As Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, I regularly talk with the residents of Mississippi including the residents of Jackson, those who commute to work in Jackson, and those who must travel to Jackson for medical treatments and care in our premier hospitals. What I find is that as law-abiding Mississippians of every race and every background, we all want the same thing: a capital city of peace and security, not of chaos and lawlessness.
So, my hat is off to the Mississippi Legislature and Governor Reeves. Thank you to the Legislature for hearing the concerns of so many Mississippians including myself and for enacting these common-sense enhancements to the law enforcement and judicial system within the City of Jackson, Mississippi. We join with you and all law-abiding Mississippians and pray that these reforms will have the desired result of restoring peace and security for all people in the City.
26 comments:
Well stated. When you are a grown-up making adult decisions, you don't reverse yourself just because the kids squeal about it.
Special thanks to all who made this happen.
I will anxiously await increasing populations in all jails.
A stupid judge has already put a temporary hold on the bill.
I was hopeful for a short while.
Jackson is going to remain a hell-hole and the naacp backers are ecstatic poverty it.
I guess they love seeing their loved ones murdered and robbed. Someone explain this to me.
This wouldn't even be an issue if the moronic voters o fthe city of jackson stopped electing soft on crime judges and incompetent leaders.
Apparently,the NAACP desires that Jackson retain and inprove upon its status as murder capital of America-
Poverty = Control = Profit = NAACP et al
A better headline:
Gibson Backs HB1020 in New Relevancy Initiative
Instead of focusing on press releases about public policy not related to agriculture--Commissioner Gibson, why don't you focus on your actual role and making government smaller and removing insane laws related to dairy milk?
Its angering how long you have been in the office of Commissioner of Agriculture preaching small government and yet the government is today still telling me how I can and can't drink milk from a cow.
Mississippi is one of only three states that allow goat milk, but not cow milk.
To ask my local farmers at the farmer's market if they a have some raw dairy milk that I can buy from them should not make them feel like I am engaging in a drug transaction. We have been drinking milk from cows for thousands of years.
Get your government out of my milk, clown.
Man, personally, I’ve been holding my breath until this very statement
No cow left behind
"Apparently,the NAACP desires that Jackson retain and inprove upon its status as murder capital of America-"
Of course they do, it's big business for them and their employees.
What's with the raw milk fans? Trying to make brucellosis and shigella great again?
The worst thing about this raw milk nonsense is that some of the contagious diseases can spread to non raw milk drinkers.
Serious question would you raw milk fans drink raw water in Jackson?
Fred Shanks didn't 'pen' anything. He's lucky to be able to vote on bills without assistance. Rode Daddy's coattail straight into politics.
The is the hero of the day.
Why we need cowboy andy's opinion is beyond me.
god help us if this hillbilly ends up as govna.
I think every CCID police officer should be required to wear a big white hat like our esteemed Ag Commish.
Andy's gonna have the Cleetus vote all goat roped when he runs for gubner.
Really, who cares what Andy thinks about anything?
@1:37
I am not a supporter of either political side at this point in my life, one side wants lawlessness and one side wants 1955, but I agree with you!
"What's with the raw milk fans? Trying to make brucellosis and shigella great again?
The worst thing about this raw milk nonsense is that some of the contagious diseases can spread to non raw milk drinkers.
Serious question would you raw milk fans drink raw water in Jackson?"
What I choose to drink is none of your business. I'm sorry you don't know how much more nutrient dense unpasteurized, unhomogenized milk is, not to mention how much more flavorful it is. You can continue to drink unflavorful store bought milk full of cow feces but its okay because the cow feces have been pasteurized? How dumb is that? Do you know why pasteurization of milk even became a thing? It's because the milking of cows went from being done on a local farm to being milked in mass in filthy, tight quarters which increased the risk of bacteria growth as cow crap and piss contaminated the supply.
Do you also know that in the State of MS, you can buy raw goat's milk but not cow's milk? Yeah, that makes sense. Who got a benefit from that carve out?
Too bad Chokwe doesn't feel the same way. You'll never hear him speak about "criminals, thugs, and gangsters" in his city.
As if his opinion is helping 1020 proponents at all....
In other news, dig bites man
3:37, go buy you a cow and milk the damn thing. The commish made a comment and I stand behind him on that. Jackson can never come back but the crime can stop. And yes, Jackson is the murder capital. That’s a hard pill for many of us to swallow and we shouldn’t have to accept it. At least Reeves is doing something about it.
Hey, raw milk man - I once saw a social media post where the now Agriculture Commissioner was straining his raw milk at home from his cow. He isn’t against drinking raw milk. I can’t say why he has not pushed for the current law to be changed but I cannot help but wonder if our so called “small government conservatives” are influenced by corporate farm/dairy interests. You set the poster straight about why commercial milk is pasteurized. If folks want to buy milk from someone they trust so they can drink healthier milk, it should be none of the state’s business. It’s not just the healthier milk. Who knows what is in vaccinations given to cows in commercial operations.
Lots of folks in towns and suburbs who have nowhere to keep a cow. They should be able to buy it from a willingness seller.
Well you would be wrong. Never assume to speak for me.
"Anonymous said...
Well you would be wrong. Never assume to speak for me."
Never speak for "Anonymous". Got it.
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