Vote “Yes” on Amendment 2 in Lousiana

Vote “Yes” on Amendment 2

 

Voters on Tuesday will have an opportunity to amend the state Constitution and dramatically safeguard gun rights throughout the state.

 

Currently, Louisiana has one of the weakest gun-related constitutional amendments in the country. The language reads: “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.” (Art. I, Sec. 11)

 

As you can see, this language allows legislators in Baton Rouge to pass all kinds of restrictions upon your God-given right to defend yourself. That’s why Sen. Neil Riser (R-District 32) introduced this measure in the legislature and got approved for this November’s ballot.

 

On November 6, voters will have a chance to vote on the appropriately named Amendment 2. Here’s what you will read on the ballot: “Do you support an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Louisiana to provide that the right to keep and bear arms is a fundamental right and any restriction of that right requires the highest standard of review by a court? (Amends Article I, Section 11)”

 

The anti-gunners are hopping mad over this language. They are scared that this amendment will result in gun-free zone laws being struck down and allow guns to be carried in places where they are currently prohibited.

 

Good! That’s what we want.

 

Again, this amendment language will dramatically improve the constitutional protection of your right to keep and bear arms. The actual text of the amendment does apply a “strict scrutiny” standard which — in technical legalese — means that the courts must jump over very high hurdles in order to find an infringement constitutional. While this is the strictest of the three standards that courts currently use today, it’s still not as strict as the “shall not be infringed” language in the U.S. Constitution.

 

Quite simply, we would have preferred the latter language — a simple statement that the rights of gun owners cannot be abridged, without any contradictory language allowing for gun control infringements. GOA has taken the position that the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States cannot be trumped, even under the “strict scrutiny” standard.

 

Nevertheless, you should understand that, while not perfect, this constitutional amendment will DRAMATICALLY improve state law over the existing language which SPECIFICALLY justifies gun control measures.

 

“We’d have the strongest Second Amendment law in the nation if we passed this,” Senator Riser said.

 

So when you go to the polls, please vote “yes” on Amendment 2.