Ellington

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi cities and counties would be banned from buying and destroying guns, under a proposal lawmakers are considering.

Weapons purchased in buy-back programs would go up for public auction. Although buy-back programs are not common in Mississippi, they're held in some parts of the country to reduce the number of weapons in crime-ridden areas.

House Bill 314 passed the Judiciary B Committee on Thursday and moves to the full House for more debate.

The bill also would ban any state government official or employee from confiscating any legally held weapon or ammunition if the governor declares martial law.

Democratic Rep. Adrienne Wooten says she's never heard of martial law being imposed in Mississippi.

Republican Rep. Andy Gipson says he hasn't, either, but he wants to make sure guns aren't taken.