Tuesday, April 12th, has been designated “Gun Day” at the Louisiana State Capital, as most gun bills filed this session are scheduled to be heard at 9:30 AM by both the House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice and Senate Judicial C Committee.

This is one of the most important days of the session for gun rights, and it is imperative that gun owners let the committee members know that we expect them to support and defend our right to keep and bear arms!

That is why we need all gun owners to please send the following emails as soon as possible!

All emails regarding bills being heard on Tuesday must be submitted no later than 12:00 PM, Monday, April 11!

To the House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice:              email [email protected]

“Dear Mr. Chairman,

As a citizen of Louisiana and a supporter of Gun Owners of America, I believe that protecting my right to keep and bear arms is one of the most important issues facing our state and country today. Numerous gun bills have been filed this session and many will be heard by this committee on Tuesday, April 12. I strongly and respectfully urge you and the other members of this committee to support, protect, and defend my right, and the right of all law-abiding Louisianans’, to keep and bear arms by:

SUPPORTING: HB37, HB43, HB464, HB483, and HB897; and

OPPOSING: HB209, and HB949

Gun Owners of America will monitor these bills and keep me informed.

Thank you

[Insert your name]”

To the Senate Judiciary C Committee: email [email protected]

“Dear Mr. Chairman,

As a citizen of Louisiana and a supporter of Gun Owners of America, I believe that protecting my right to keep and bear arms is one of the most important issues facing our state and country today. As such, I strongly oppose SB327.

SB327 is Louisiana’s version of a gun confiscation “red flag” law. This law would authorize a district attorney or assistant district attorney to petition the court for a warrant for the seizure of any firearm from any person when the petitioner has probable cause to believe the person poses a risk of imminent personal injury to himself or to another person. Essentially, this bill gives the government the ability to strip a person of their rights simply because someone asks them to. Like all “red flag” laws, this bill provides no due process prior to the seizure of an individual’s firearms, and infringes upon the right to keep and bear arms as enumerated by the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States and Article 1, Section 11, of the Louisiana Constitution.

I strongly and respectfully urge you and the other members of this committee to support, protect, and defend my right, and the right of all law-abiding Louisianans’, to keep and bear arms by opposing SB327.

Gun Owners of America will monitor this bill and keep me informed.

Thank you.

[insert your name]”

Once you have sent the above emails, please call the Administration of Criminal Justice Committee (225-342-2409) and Judiciary C Committee (225-342-2721) and ask that they support and defend your Second Amendment rights by voting in favor of the pro-gun bills and against the anti-gun bills identified in your emails.

And if you can, come to the Capitol on Tuesday morning. (Directions to the Capitol)

Flooded email inboxes, phones constantly ringing, and committee rooms overflowing with gun owners supporting their right to keep and bear arms, will be impossible for the committee members to ignore! 

And if any committee members do fail to support the rights of gun owners, GOA will be sure to take note and will remind our members every chance we get!

Below are the pro-gun and anti-gun bills identified in the emails above.

House Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice:

Pro-Gun Bills:

HB37 Rep. Danny McCormick – This is the Constitutional Carry bill filed by Representative McCormick’s last year. This bill would restore the right of law-abiding gun owners 18 years and older to carry a concealed handgun in the state of Louisiana without a permit.

HB43 Rep. Larry Frieman – This is the Firearm Protection Act filed by Representative Frieman last year. This bill would make Louisiana a Second Amendment Sanctuary State, prohibiting the state, and any governing authorities within the state, from enforcing, or assisting in enforcing, a federal act, regulation, executive order, etc. enacted after January 1, 2022, that infringes on a citizen’s right to keep and bear arms.

HB464 Rep. Alan Seabaugh – This bill provides for greater protection of the Second Amendment rights of individuals accused of domestic violence in civil cases. Specifically, this bill provides more due process protection and a higher burden of proof for issuing a permanent injunction or protective order that requires a firearm transfer.

HB483 Rep. Travis Johnson – This bill shortens the time period before a person with a felony conviction is allowed to possess a firearm, carry a concealed weapon, or apply for a concealed handgun permit from 10 years to five years.

HB897 Rep. Charles Owens – This bill allows members of the armed forces of the U.S. stationed in Louisiana on active or reserve duty to obtain concealed handgun permits.

Anti-Gun Bills:

HB209 Rep. Mandie Landry – This bill is an anti-firearm preemption bill that must be stopped. Currently, Louisiana has a strong firearm preemption law which prohibits any governing authority of a political subdivision (local government) from enacting any ordinance or regulation that is more restrictive than state law. This bill would remove this preemption protection, allowing certain local governing authorities to make their own laws regarding firearms. This bill would allow for the creation of a patchwork of gun laws throughout the state, and creating the scenario where a law-abiding gun owner would violate the law just by driving into a different parish or municipality.

HB949 Rep. Tammy Phelps – Current law provides that a person less than 18 years of age may not knowingly possess a handgun on their person. This bill would remove the requirement that the handgun be possessed on the person to be violating the law. If this bill were to pass, a person under the age of 18 could be arrested for illegal possession of a firearm simply for being in a vehicle with a handgun that they did not even know was there.

Senate Judiciary C Committee:

Anti-Gun Bill:

SB327 Sen. Gary Carter – This bill is Louisiana’s version of a gun confiscation “red flag” law and Sen. Carter’s fourth attempt, going back to his time in the House, to pass such a law. This bill authorizes a district attorney or assistant district attorney to petition the court for a warrant for the search and seizure of any firearm from any person when the petitioner has probable cause to believe the person poses a risk of imminent personal injury to himself or to another person.  Much like Sen. Carter’s previous attempts, this proposed “red flag” law does not provide due process for the seizure of firearms and violates, at a minimum, the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States and Article 1, Section 11, of the Louisiana Constitution.

Please Take Action!

It is vital that we take action and put the committee members on notice that we expect them to support and defend the right of law-abiding Louisianans’ to keep and bear arms!

Please email the House and Senate Committees no later than Monday, April 11, at 12:00 PM.

Then, follow up with a call. (Administration of Criminal Justice Committee at 225-342-2409, and Judiciary C Committee at 225-342-2721.)

And if you can, we hope to see you on Tuesday!