Many Mississippians are deeply concerned and live in fear of rising crime in their local community. To combat rising danger in high-crime areas, and to enhance Mississippi’s disaster response plans, Gipson will take action as Governor on Day One to:

a.    Establish a Statewide Multi-Agency Law Enforcement Task Force to deploy and work with local sheriffs, police chiefs and law enforcement officers to fight, deter and hold criminals accountable in high crime areas, with assistance by the National Guard as needed;

b.    Establish within MDOC a 400-bed State Juvenile Offender Penitentiary System where dangerous and troubled youth can be removed from our schools and communities, and placed within this stable controlled environment from which they can “earn their way out” through an educational diploma or gaining an employable job trade skill;

c.    End illegal immigration in the State of Mississippi by enforcing federal and state law;

d.    Dedicate a State Mental Health Rehabilitation Center; assist law enforcement to identify and house those suffering with dangerous mental illness so they can be safely treated, without presenting a danger to themselves or others;

e.    Work with the Legislature to increase State benefits for all law enforcement officers, firefighters and first responders, including death and injury benefits, additional access to counseling and mental health supports, and enhanced State retirement benefits;

f.     Improve disaster response by pre-staging in all 82 Mississippi counties a plentiful supply of shelf-stable food and water supplies and other life-saving necessities to be accessed immediately upon the occurrence of a disaster. Gipson will also work with the Legislature to establish a County and Municipal Disaster Response Revolving Fund (refundable by federal relief) that can be utilized immediately by local governments in the event of a hurricane, tornado, ice storm or other natural disaster. Gipson will also implement a Pre-Event Disaster Program where private sector vendors remain contracted on standby, before a disaster occurs.