Louisiana Governor Signs Pro-Gun Bills Into Law

I am happy to report that Democrat Governor John Bel Edwards honored his declared support of the Second Amendment by signing into law pro-gun bills HB140, HB334, HB746, and HB781.

This is no small accomplishment, and it would not have been possible without you being a part of GOA’s grassroots team!

Action taken by you, and gun owners across the state, throughout the course of this legislative session sent an unmistakable message to the legislature and to the Governor, that current infringements on our God-given right to defend ourselves and our families are unacceptable.

In fact, action taken by you in response to the threat of executive officers (from the governor down to city mayor) limiting or prohibiting the sale and transfer of firearms during a declared emergency directly led to the filing of HB781, a bill that protects our gun rights during a state of emergency.

So thank you for all of your time and effort!

And thanks to the legislators who introduced and supported these bills, as well as, to Governor Edwards for signing them into law.

House Bill No. 140, by Rep. Blake Miguez (R) Dist. 49, strengthens Louisiana’s firearm preemption law by further limiting the authority of parish and local governments to prohibit the possession of a weapon or firearm to those places where a concealed handgun permit holder is already prohibited from carrying a concealed handgun. (These specific locations are identified in the concealed handgun permit statute R.S. 40:1379.3(N).)

House Bill No. 334, by Rep. Bryan Fontenot (R) Dist. 55, amends the present law prohibition on the carrying of a concealed handgun by a concealed handgun permit holder in a church, synagogue, mosque, or other similar place of worship by providing that the carrying of a concealed handgun in such places is allowed if authorized by the person who has authority over the administration of the church, synagogue, mosque, or other similar place of worship.

House Bill No.  746, by Rep. Ray Garofalo (R) Dist. 103, creates an exception to the illegal carrying of weapons by allowing any person who can lawfully possess a firearm to carry a concealed firearm during a mandatory evacuation in a declared state of emergency or disaster.

House Bill No. 781, by Rep. Blake Miguez (R) Dist. 49, removes the authority of executive and chief law enforcement officers to regulate the manufacture, sale, and possession of firearms or ammunition during a declared emergency or disaster, or public health emergency.