Current Louisiana gun law recognizes residents’ right to carry a firearm openly, but requires a permit to carry concealed. The second part of that equation could change. From wafb.com:
House Bill 68 by Baton Rouge lawmaker, Rep. Barry Ivey, would do away with the permitting process. That means anywhere a person can legally carry a gun openly, they could also carry a concealed gun without a permit. Convicted felons would still not be allowed to carry.
Under HB 68 the permitting process would remain in place. It simply wouldn’t be mandatory. A commenter at legiscan writes that it is the House Administration of Criminal Justice committee that has killed the bill in the past. She notes that the requirements for a permit chill the exercise of the right to bear arms for many.
This bill has been shot down multiple times in the past years by the House Administration of Criminal Justice. It is time to let the poeple you represent vote on what’s right for them and let this bill pass on to a vote of the people. Instead we have politicians who think they know what’s best for you or police who don’t want to deal with any hassle.
Guess what, criminals are going to conceal anyway so this only affects law abiding citizens and the state because they count on this money. The only help we need on this one is to let us vote. There are a lot of good people in this state that can’t afford to take time off work ( not open on weekends)not to mention the $500.00 fee to get a lifetime concealed permit.
Louisiana has had “shall issue” concealed carry permitting since 1996. Several incremental improvements in the law have been passed since then. Honorably discharged veterans are exempt from fees for the five year license. People who have had felony convictions expunged can obtain permits. A lifetime permit is offered.
But those improvements still require the permit, which isn’t consistent with the Louisiana Constitutional Amendment. From the Constitution on the State of Louisiana:
Section 11. The right of each citizen to keep and bear arms is fundamental and shall not be infringed. Any restriction on this right shall be subject to strict scrutiny.
It’s hard to see that the requirement for a permit to conceal carry would pass the strict scrutiny standard. Thirteen other states do not require permits, and their crime rates are generally lower than that of Louisiana, proving that the permits lower crime would be difficult.
Passage of HB 68 seems unlikely this year. But New Hampshire and North Dakota have passed Constitutional Carry bills, and Alabama, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin bills are in play.
Montana passed a “permitless” carry bill for the third time this year. The bill would have extended “permitless” carry to the ne percent of the state where a permit is required. It was vetoed for a second time by Governor Bullock. South Dakota passed a Constitutional Carry bill for the second time, only to have it vetoed the second time by Governor Daugaard.
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