Council could appeal controversial security guard ordinance

JACKSON — The Jackson City Council could repeal a controversial law requiring convenience stores to hire security guards as soon as next month.

The law hasn’t been enforced since the council passed it 4-2 in September, because it doesn’t list any penalties for violating it. Under the law, 24-hour convenience stores have to keep a security guard on duty from midnight to 5 a.m.

Former Councilman Kenneth Stokes proposed the law in an effort to make those stores safer in the wake of a string of shootings. But opponents have complained it unfairly imposes costly restrictions on a particular set of businesses.

The Clarion-Ledger reports Councilman Quentin Whitwell is pushing for its repeal, saying the ordinance was poorly thought out.