[[Official Louisiana gun laws reference thread]]

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    Tantrix

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    BATFE Detailed Summary of State Gun Laws (6 page .PDF document) Link HERE



    ==================================================================

    -- STATE LAW ON ILLEGAL CARRYING OF WEAPONS --​

    RS 14:95
    §95. Illegal carrying of weapons
    A. Illegal carrying of weapons is:
    (1) The intentional concealment of any firearm, or other instrumentality customarily used or intended for probable use as a dangerous weapon, on one's person; or
    (2) The ownership, possession, custody or use of any firearm, or other instrumentality customarily used as a dangerous weapon, at any time by an enemy alien; or
    (3) The ownership, possession, custody or use of any tools, or dynamite, or nitroglycerine, or explosives, or other instrumentality customarily used by thieves or burglars at any time by any person with the intent to commit a crime; or
    (4) The manufacture, ownership, possession, custody or use of any switchblade knife, spring knife or other knife or similar instrument having a blade which may be automatically unfolded or extended from a handle by the manipulation of a button, switch, latch or similar contrivance.
    (5)(a) The intentional possession or use by any person of a dangerous weapon on a school campus during regular school hours or on a school bus. "School" means any elementary, secondary, high school, or vo-tech school in this state and "campus" means all facilities and property within the boundary of the school property. "School bus" means any motor bus being used to transport children to and from school or in connection with school activities.
    (b) The provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply to:
    (i) A peace officer as defined by R.S. 14:30(B) in the performance of his official duties.
    (ii) A school official or employee acting during the normal course of his employment or a student acting under the direction of such school official or employee.
    (iii) Any person having the written permission of the principal or school board and engaged in competition or in marksmanship or safety instruction.
    B.(1) Whoever commits the crime of illegal carrying of weapons shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.
    (2) Whoever commits the crime of illegal carrying of weapons with any firearm used in the commission of a crime of violence as defined in R.S. 14:2(13), shall be fined not more than two thousand dollars, or imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not less than one year nor more than two years, or both. Any sentence issued pursuant to the provisions of this Paragraph and any sentence issued pursuant to a violation of a crime of violence as defined in R.S. 14:2(13) shall be served consecutively.
    C. On a second conviction, the offender shall be imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than five years.
    D. On third and subsequent convictions, the offender shall be imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than ten years without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.
    E. If the offender uses, possesses, or has under his immediate control any firearm, or other instrumentality customarily used or intended for probable use as a dangerous weapon, while committing or attempting to commit a crime of violence or while in the possession of or during the sale or distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, the offender shall be fined not more than ten thousand dollars and imprisoned at hard labor for not less than five nor more than ten years without the benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence. Upon a second or subsequent conviction, the offender shall be imprisoned at hard labor for not less than twenty years nor more than thirty years without the benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence.
    F. The enhanced penalty upon second, third, and subsequent convictions shall not be applicable in cases where more than five years have elapsed since the expiration of the maximum sentence, or sentences, of the previous conviction or convictions, and the time of the commission of the last offense for which he has been convicted; the sentence to be imposed in such event shall be the same as may be imposed upon a first conviction.
    G.(1) The provisions of this Section except Paragraph (4) of Subsection A shall not apply to sheriffs and their deputies, state and city police, constables and town marshals, or persons vested with police power when in the actual discharge of official duties. These provisions shall not apply to sheriffs and their deputies and state and city police who are not actually discharging their official duties, provided that such persons are full time, active, and certified by the Council on Peace Officer Standards and Training and have on their persons valid identification as duly commissioned law enforcement officers.
    (2) The provisions of this Section except Paragraph (4) of Subsection A shall not apply to any law enforcement officer who is retired from full-time active law enforcement service with at least twelve years service upon retirement, provided that such retired officers have on their persons valid identification as retired law enforcement officers. The retired law enforcement officer must be qualified annually in the use of firearms by the Council on Peace Officer Standards and Training and have proof of such qualification. This exception shall not apply to such officers who are medically retired based upon any mental impairment.
    (3)(a) The provisions of this Section except Paragraph (4) of Subsection A shall not apply to reserve or auxiliary law enforcement officers qualified annually by the Council on Peace Officer Standards and Training and who have on their person valid identification as retired reserve law or auxiliary municipal police officers. The retired reserve or auxiliary municipal police officer must be qualified annually in the use of firearms by the Council on Peace Officer Standards and Training and have proof of such certification.
    (b) For the purposes of this Paragraph, a reserve or auxiliary municipal police officer shall be defined as a volunteer, non-regular, sworn member of a law enforcement agency who serves with or without compensation and has regular police powers while functioning as such agency's representative, and who participates on a regular basis in agency activities including, but not limited to those pertaining to crime prevention or control, and the preservation of the peace and enforcement of the law.
    H. The provisions of this Section shall not prohibit active justices or judges of the supreme court, courts of appeal, district courts, parish courts, juvenile courts, family courts, city courts, and traffic courts, constables, and justices of the peace from possessing and concealing a handgun on their person when the justice or judge, constable or justice of the peace is certified by the Council on Peace Officer Standards and Training.
    I. The provisions of this Section shall not prohibit the carrying of a concealed handgun by a person who is a college or university police officer under the provisions of R.S. 17:1805 and who is carrying a concealed handgun in accordance with the provisions of that statute.
    J. The provisions of this Section shall not prohibit the ownership of rescue knives by commissioned full-time law enforcement officers. The provisions of this Section shall not prohibit the carrying of rescue knives by commissioned full-time law enforcement officers who are in the actual discharge of their official duties. The provisions of this Section shall not prohibit the sale of rescue knives to commissioned full-time law enforcement officers. The provisions of this Section shall not prohibit the ownership or possession of rescue knives by merchants who own or possess the knives solely as inventory to be offered for sale to commissioned full-time law enforcement officers. As used in this Subsection, a "rescue knife" is a folding knife, which can be readily and easily opened with one hand and which has at least one blade which is designed to be used to free individuals who are trapped by automobile seat belts, or at least one blade which is designed for a similar purpose. No blade of a rescue knife shall exceed five inches in length.
    Amended by Acts 1956, No. 345,§ 1; Acts 1958, No. 21,§ 1; Acts 1958, No. 379,§ §1, 3; Acts 1968, No. 647,§ 1; Acts 1975, No. 492,§ 1; Acts 1986, No. 38,§ 1; Acts 1992, No. 1017,§ 1; Acts 1993, No. 636,§ 1; Acts 1993, No. 844,§ 1; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 143,§ 1; Acts 1995, No. 636,§ 1; Acts 1995, No. 930,§ 1; Acts 1995, No. 1195,§ 1; Acts 1995, No. 1199, § 1; Acts 1997, No. 508,§ 1; Acts 1997, No. 611,§ 1; Acts 1997, No. 1064,§ 1; Acts 1999, No. 738,§ 1; Acts 1999, No. 924,§ 1; Acts 1999, No. 953,§ 1.

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    Tantrix

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    -- CONCEALED CARRY INFORMATION --​

    Louisiana State Police Concealed Handgun Permit Unit
    - http://www.lsp.org/handguns.html

    Prohibited Locations
    R.S. 40:1379.3 (N) states that no concealed handgun may be carried into and no concealed handgun permit issued pursuant to this Section shall authorize or entitle a permittee to carry a concealed handgun in any of the following:

    * A law enforcement office, station, or building;
    * A detention facility, prison, or jail;
    * A courthouse or courtroom, provided that a judge may carry such a weapon in his own courtroom;
    * A polling place;
    * A meeting place of the governing authority of a political subdivision;
    * The state capitol building;
    * Any portion of an airport facility where the carrying of firearms is prohibited under federal law, except that no person shall be prohibited from carrying any legal firearm into the terminal, if the firearm is encased for shipment, for the purpose of checking such firearm as lawful baggage;
    * Any church, synagogue, mosque or similar place of worship;
    * A parade or demonstration for which a permit is issued by a governmental entity;
    * Any portion of the permitted area of an establishment that has been granted a Class A-General retail permit, as defined in Part II of Chapter 1 or Part II of Chapter 2 of Title 26 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises.
    * Any school "firearm free zone" as defined in R.S. 14:95.6.

    The provisions of R.S. 40:1379.3 (N) shall not limit the right of a property owner, lessee, or other lawful custodian to prohibit or restrict access of those persons possessing a concealed handgun pursuant to a permit issued under this Section. No individual to whom a concealed handgun permit is issued may carry such concealed handgun into the private residence of another without first receiving the consent of that person.


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    -- NRA-ILA Compendium of State Firearms Laws - LOUISIANA --​

    http://www.nraila.org/GunLaws/

    Gun Ban - None
    Exemptions to NICS2 - N/A
    State Waiting Period-Number of Days - None
    License or Permit to Purchase or Other Prerequisite - None
    Registration - None
    Record of Sale Reported to State or Local Govt. - No
    State Provision for Right-to-Carry Concealed - Right-to-Carry "Shall issue" or less restrictive discretionary permit system
    Carrying Openly Prohibited - No
    OwnerID Cards or Licensing - No
    Firearm Rights Constitutional Provision - Yes
    State Firearms Preemption Laws - Yes
    Range Protection Law - Yes

    ==============================================================

    -- MISC STATE GUN LAWS --​

    1) Handgun ownership: unrestricted, no permit or license required
    2) Rifle and Shotgun ownership: unrestricted, no permit or license required
    3) Semi-automatic "assault weapon" ownership: unrestricted, no permit or license required
    4) Machine Gun Ownership: ownership restricted to "war relic" machine guns
    5) Firearm law uniformity: state preemption act, localities prohibited from enacting ordinances regulating firearms
    6) Concealed carry: licenses granted on a "shall issue" basis; reciprocity available for non-residents with carry permits from certain other states
    7) Vehicle carry and transportation: Louisiana has no law covering firearms inside motor vehicles. Since there is no law, anyone who can legally possess a firearm can carry a loaded firearm inside a vehicle. It can be the glove box, console, under the seat, or concealed on one's person. Louisiana allows such carry. In Louisiana your vehicle is treated as an extension of your home so the castle doctrine extends to your motor vehicle.
    8) Louisiana has been aptly named "The Sportsman's Paradise" for its vast network of hunting and fishing preserves. Its legal treatment of firearms reflects an appreciation of the outdoor sports that most gun-owning travelers will find very accommodating.
    9) Loaded firearms may be carried openly in a vehicle by any person qualified under federal law to possess a firearm. Concealed carry is limited to those individuals who possess a Louisiana license to carry. Such permits are granted by state authorities on a "shall issue" basis. Louisiana recently liberalized its concealed carry law to allow reciprocity for non-residents with carry permits from their home states. The non-resident's home state must have standards of application which are as strict as Louisiana for reciprocal recognition to occur.
    10) Carry of a firearm in a vehicle may also be supplemented by carry of a firearm in the glove compartment. Louisiana allows such carry. Carry of a concealed weapon on one's person (which includes under one's seat) is legal.
    11) Louisiana permits open carry of a firearm on foot except while on school grounds. State law prohibits possession of a firearm on school property unless the firearm is secured within a motor vehicle.
    12) Louisiana has a state preemption act which prevents localities from passing their own firearm laws. Travelers to the large urban center of New Orleans will find this comforting since the political climate in the city would support strict regulation of firearms were it not for the supervening state law.

    ================================================================

    -- OPEN CARRY LAW --​

    It is lawful to carry a firearm provided it is not concealed. A firearm in a holster is not concealed. It is lawful to carry a handgun in the glove compartment of a motor vehicle. The law makes no exception for carrying a firearm concealed "on one's person" even in the home.

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    CavalryJim

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    Nice start. Here are a couple more. Please note that the preemption law has a grandfather law....meaning any local firearm ordinances prior to 1985 are still valid. [My comments are in brackets].

    Louisiana State Constitution Article I Sec 11
    The right of each citizen to keep and bear arms shall not be abridged, but this provision shall not prevent the passage of laws to prohibit the carrying of weapons concealed on the person.
    [To me, this means (outside of existing federal regulations) the most any state, parish, or city can regulate is the concealed carrying of firearms]
    Reference: http://www.legis.state.la.us/lss/lss.asp?doc=206276

    State Preemption Law RS 40:1796
    No governing authority of a political subdivision shall enact after July 15, 1985, any ordinance or regulation more restrictive than state law concerning in any way the sale, purchase, possession, ownership, transfer, transportation, license, or registration of firearms, ammunition, or components of firearms or ammunition; provided, however, that this Section shall not apply to the levy and collection of sales and use taxes, license fees and taxes and permit fees, nor shall it affect the authority of political subdivisions to prohibit the possession of a weapon or firearm in certain commercial establishments and public buildings.
    Added by Acts 1985, No. 741, §1, eff. July 17, 1985.
    [This is a good law but it needs to be modified to remove the pre-1985 grandfather clause]
    Reference: http://www.legis.state.la.us/lss/lss.asp?doc=97860
     

    Nurseman

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    "Vehicle carry and transportation: loaded firearms may be carried openly or in the glove compartment of a vehicle; firearms may not be concealed on one's person or under one's seat"

    Where is the source for this? I do not see any law on the books prohibiting weapons under the seat, or on your person in the car. Nor to I see anything describing were it can be carried in the car glovebox open or otherwise.

    Can We please post a link to the regulation or site the case law for these.
     

    Tantrix

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    "Vehicle carry and transportation: loaded firearms may be carried openly or in the glove compartment of a vehicle; firearms may not be concealed on one's person or under one's seat"

    Where is the source for this? I do not see any law on the books prohibiting weapons under the seat, or on your person in the car. Nor to I see anything describing were it can be carried in the car glovebox open or otherwise.

    Can We please post a link to the regulation or site the case law for these.

    This has been revised and corrected. Refer to #7 under MISC STATE GUN LAWS.

    7) Vehicle carry and transportation: Louisiana has no law covering firearms inside motor vehicles. In Louisiana your vehicle is considered an extension of your home so the castle doctrine also applies while inside your motor vehicle. Since there is no law, anyone who can legally possess a firearm can carry a loaded firearm inside a vehicle. It can be in the glove box, console, under the seat, or anywhere else in the vehicle.
     
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    penguin

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    Good catch. Also, federal law doesn't apply to carrying a weapon on school grounds as long as that weapon remains in your vehicle. There are a few good La Sup Ct decisions regarding this. Although the question begs 'why do you need to carry onto school grounds?'
     

    Tantrix

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    Good catch. Also, federal law doesn't apply to carrying a weapon on school grounds as long as that weapon remains in your vehicle. There are a few good La Sup Ct decisions regarding this. Although the question begs 'why do you need to carry onto school grounds?'

    Yep. That one is #11 in Misc Gun Laws. Surprisingly alot of people don't know that one. They either think you can't walk inside a school with a gun or you can't have a gun anywhere near a school period.

    Louisiana puts it in plain english. Don't get out of your vehicle on school grounds with your gun. Easy enough for me. :cool:

    11) Louisiana permits open carry of a firearm on foot except while on school grounds. State law prohibits possession of a firearm on school property unless the firearm is secured within a motor vehicle.
     

    Tantrix

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    with all the school incidents all over the place... you never know. I even carry to church.

    You aint kiddin there. These days, no place is safe. Reminds me of the LSU rapist a few years back. After that guy Louisiana State Police said the concealed carry division was bombarded with new applicants, mostly female. There's a reason they pick college campuses...the students are basically unarmed for fear of being expelled from college. Pepper spray or stun gun is about the most they have to worry about, and most students don't even carry those.

    Here's an article about various crimes on college campuses. I wonder what it looks like now as of 2006.

    http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0122/p03s01-ussc.html
     

    Yrdawg

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    Shopping mall

    This is my pet peve,

    If a shopping mall, convience store, anyplace that the public shops but is on private property is located within 1000 ft of a school you cannot carry there under concealed carry permit. I cannot get clarification from the AG office cause they say they are the lawyer for the police and can't talk to me.

    I have had several answers from LEO and others. THey vary from yes to no.

    Whachall think ??

    Dawg

    :(
     

    topgunz1

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    I dont have a 1000 ft tape measure in my unit... if you get involved in something, lawyers will find one tho. Not really sure...
     

    Tantrix

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    Don't worry about it. Same situation around here, but I don't get all bent up over it. The 1000ft thing is retarded. If I wanted to shoot a school up I wouldn't even have to be within 1000ft, I have several rifles I can shoot quarters with at way over 1000ft. Hell most hunting rifles could too. Here are 2 examples around my area, way out in the sticks.

    1) There's a gas station probably between 800ft-1200ft down the road from an elementary school out here by my house and I conceal carry and open carry into that little gas station all the time. It would be really hard to know if this gas station is over 1000ft from the school unless you literally measured it out through the trees. Is it in the school zone? Who the hell knows.

    2) There's a high school near here and it's about 600ft-700ft from the highway on the left, and there's a gas station immediately to the right across from the high school. I carry in that gas station too, just like I do at any other one. When you pass through the town the speed limit goes down from 55mph to 35mph for maybe 1/4 of a mile, yet there is no "school zone" signs up anywhere on the highway. Is the 35mph stretch with the gas station on the right a school zone? If it is, it doesn't say it anywhere. Who the hell knows.
     

    LouisianaCarry

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    This is my pet peve,

    If a shopping mall, convience store, anyplace that the public shops but is on private property is located within 1000 ft of a school you cannot carry there under concealed carry permit. I cannot get clarification from the AG office cause they say they are the lawyer for the police and can't talk to me.

    I have had several answers from LEO and others. THey vary from yes to no.

    Whachall think ??

    Dawg

    :(


    You can get an opinion from the AG if you get an elected official to rubber-stamp your request (small town mayor, etc.).

    You might (read slim chance) be able to argue your ability to be inside private property with explicit permission from the owner w/ a weapon, but there is a good chance you would be in for a battle. Search http://findlaw.com for school zone cases. Courts regularly find them to be "reasonable restrictions" to our constitutional rights (I don't agree, naturally)

    BTW, howya doin, yrdawg?
     

    jphilp87

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    You aint kiddin there. These days, no place is safe. Reminds me of the LSU rapist a few years back. After that guy Louisiana State Police said the concealed carry division was bombarded with new applicants, mostly female. There's a reason they pick college campuses...the students are basically unarmed for fear of being expelled from college.
    http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0122/p03s01-ussc.html

    Buddy, you said it! That scares the crap out of me. Not for myself (ahem... trust me) but for my wife, who is an excellent marksman...or markswoman... but who wouldnt be able to carry on campus. She is going to be enrolled in one of the next CCW classes through EBR and will be carrying 100% of the time quite soon. This school s**t is just that... S**T.

    I'd like to see somebody try something with her at our house... good luck getting past the front door... so now i guess I gotta work on protecting her at school too. Isn't that sad.
     

    LouisianaCarry

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    Louisiana Gun Laws (new sticky- under construction)

    Been wondering what the law says about something you do?

    Are you tired of relying on what your friends told you?

    Well, I will attempt to put all the ones I have found pertinent in one thread here. This is purely a reference thread. In order to keep this thread clear and readable, please start a new thread to comment on or discuss these laws. If you have a statute that you think is relevant and should be included in this thread, please PM me. Please note: laws are subject to change- if you want to be sure that one of these laws still has the current wording, check the legislature Table of Contents, and navigate to the statute in question. Also, bear in mind that this is not intended as legal advice- I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV- I just believe it is each citizen's civic duty to be informed about the laws that pertain to him.

    Before we get started, here are a few links for further research:

    Click here to search the LA Legislature official web site for all laws containing the term "firearms"

    Click here to search the LA Legislature official web site for all laws containing the term "weapons"

    Click here to visit LouisianaCarry.org's LA Law Primer Page [This page includes links to Federal laws, as well as MANY of Louisiana's local published ordinances]

    Click here to view the Louisiana's State Constitution

    Click here to go to the Louisiana State Legislature Web Portal

    Click here to go to the Louisiana State Legislature Table of Contents of Laws

    Click here to go to the Louisiana Legislature Search Page

    Click here to visit Handgunlaw.us

    Class 3 (Automatic weapons, short barreled rifles, etc.) Laws have their own reference thread here
     
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