Federal agents arrested a Florida-licensed attorney after gun-store staff reported she vowed to kill immigration officers while trying to buy a firearm.
Story Snapshot
- Homeland Security Investigations arrested Lisa C. White after a gun-store report in Mississippi.
- Staff said she threatened to kill immigration agents and asked about shooting through body armor.
- The alleged threat came as she tried to buy a gun and pepper spray.
- Prosecutors cited a federal law on threats against officials, with penalties up to 10 years.
Arrest Tied to Alleged Threats at Mississippi Gun Store
Homeland Security Investigations said agents arrested Lisa C. White on September 24 after workers at High Caliber Guns in Long Beach, Mississippi, reported violent threats the day before. Officials said White identified herself as an activist and asked for a gun. Staff reported she said she wanted to kill immigration agents and asked if bullets could go through a vest. The store contacted federal authorities. Agents interviewed witnesses and moved forward under federal threat laws.
Local reporting said the incident began around late morning on September 23, when White entered the shop and asked for a firearm. The store owner reported the encounter to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The referral then went to Homeland Security Investigations, which took the lead. Authorities emphasized the threats targeted federal personnel by role, not at random people, raising security concerns for immigration officers.
Specific Statements Cited by Investigators
Investigators said White discussed how to defeat protective gear and pointed to spots not covered by a vest. Reports described questions about whether rounds could pierce body armor and, if not, where to aim, including the head, shoulder, arm, or leg. Officials also said she tried to buy pepper spray along with a gun, which they argued showed steps toward action rather than only talk. These details are central to the government’s theory of a true threat against officials.
Authorities said the case is being pursued under a federal statute that bans influencing, impeding, or retaliating against federal officials by threat. Local coverage noted that the charge can carry up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to two hundred fifty thousand dollars if a court convicts. The announcement did not list a completed gun sale. The focus remained on the reported words, gestures, and attempted purchase as the key facts that prompted the arrest.
Why This Case Matters for Speech and Safety
The Supreme Court has said that true threats are not protected speech. In 2023, the Court ruled that prosecutors must prove the speaker had at least a reckless awareness that their words were threatening. That test focuses on context and intent, not only on harsh language. When threats target named public roles, like immigration officers, and come with steps toward a weapon, investigators often treat them as serious risks to safety.
Florida attorney Lisa White charged after walking into a Mississippi gun shop and saying she needed a g*n to k*ll ICE agents.
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White, 70, of Diamondhead told employees at High Caliber Guns in Long Beach on September 23 that she was an activist and protester who needed a firearm… pic.twitter.com/1ZOLQXUHri— Newyorker4ever (@zingari888) October 22, 2026
For many Americans, this case hits two nerve points at once. People want strong protection for public servants who face rising hostility. People also want free speech to stay broad, even when anger runs hot. The law draws a line between heated talk and threats that show intent to harm. This arrest shows how fast that line can come into play when words, targets, and access to weapons converge in one event.
Sources:
pjmedia.com, wlox.com, thepostmillennial.com, knoe.com
