How to Make Your Voice Heard

The Kelo decision created a firestorm of protest, and many states have enacted some kind of reform. But Mississippi has not.

Neither the unfortunate Connecticut owners who lost their homes, nor the city that took them, have benefited because the private developer went bankrupt. Other, similar examples may be found close to home – Yellow Creek in North Mississippi, The Tenn-Tom waterway borders, the Madison County resident complaining that his property was confiscated ten years ago but still sits idle. Perhaps you know of similar situations.
Yet there is still hope – this MFBF supported citizens’ initiative to amend the Mississippi Constitution of 1890 to prevent public taking for private parties or development. This undertaking will require much effort and face many challenges from well financed and organized special interest groups who place profit over principle. MFBF is, however, committed and expects to be supported by our elected legislators who tried to enact the needed reform, but were stymied by gubernatorial veto. Write or call your legislators.

The will of the people should prevail on this important constitutional issue. Otherwise, as predicted by Justices O’Connor, Scalia, Thomas, and the Chief Justice in the Kelo case:
The specter of condemnation hangs over all property. Nothing is to prevent the State from replacing any Motel 6 with a Ritz-Carlton, any home with a shopping mall or any farm with a factory.

Not only that, those who are less able to afford to defend themselves are likely victims whom he described as “disproportionately poor communities” who are less politically powerful. This is certainly true in our state.

If you want your voice to be heard on eminent domain reform, your chance is here. If the average person wants to acquire his neighbor’s farm or home, he has no power to take it away if the owner does not agree to the price offered. Either a price is negotiated and paid, or the buyer must look elsewhere. Just because a big company or a developer has the wealth to build a hotel or office building on the property that will generate more revenue does not justify the government’s taking the property from the owner and turning it over to a wealthier party.

Constitutional rights should not be determined by financial standards, nor favor the wealthy over others.

If our people speak, the government must hear them.

You may use the initiative petition on this site, print it out (must be on 8 ½ x 14 paper) to both sign and circulate to other registered Mississippi voters to sign. If you obtain the signatures of others, you should also sign the petition at the bottom as a circulator unless it is signed by someone else. The following instructions are important and should be carefully followed. If you need assistance in getting a proper size petition, signing and completing the petition or in circulating it, call toll-free 1-800-227-8244 and ask for Petition Assistance.