BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — Louisiana lawmakers are inching closer towards passing a bill that would allow permitless concealed carrying of a firearm.
Senate Bill 1 would do away with the permit and training requirements for someone over the age of 18 to conceal carry a firearm. Those for the bill argue law abiding citizens are limited in their rights by the current law.
“Louisiana’s long recognized this right to open carry and it’s a local, logical extension of this right to carry concealed with the simple act of wearing a jacket,” said State Sen. Blake Miguez, R-New Iberia.
Louisiana is an open carry state, and all the surrounding states have permitless concealed carry. Lawmakers presented conflicting data on if permitless concealed carry increases or decreases crime in other states.
“Constitutional carry simply puts law abiding citizens on equal footing. Constitutional carry gives criminals a reason to fear any potential victim who could be armed and disincentivizes criminal conduct. Because we all know that the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun,” Miguez said.
The New Orleans Police Department and Fraternal Order of Police are reportedly against this bill. Law enforcement have, in the past, testified against the bill stating it would make it harder for them to identify a credible threat and increase risks for officers who do not know if someone is carrying a weapon.
This year, other agencies have taken a neutral stance. The bill author said many have sheriffs and district attorneys that are split on how they feel about the bill.
“So, your right to carry a gun should not infringe on my right or my family’s right to live safely in a community. And that’s what this bill is going to do. It’s going to make us less safe,” said State Sen. Royce Duplessis, D-New Orleans.
Gov. Jeff Landry said in his session opening speech he would sign the bill. Gov. John Bel Edwards vetoed a similar bill in 2021 and in subsequent years the bill could not make it out of the legislative process.
SB1 now heads over to the House side for another committee hearing. The special crime session can last until March 6.
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