Louisiana: Two Gun Bills to be Considered on the Senate Floor

On Thursday, May 13, the Senate Natural Resources Committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 534, a bill that would bring Louisiana into agreement with a recently passed federal law that allows carrying firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges in accordance with applicable state carry laws. At the same time, the Senate Committee on Local and Municipal Affairs passed Senate Bill 526 by a vote of 3 to 2. SB526 would prohibit firearms on all property belonging to the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board.  Both bills will now be considered by the full Senate in the near future.

State Senator Troy Hebert (I-22) introduced SB534, which would allow possession and transportation of any lawfully-owned firearm in state parks, state historic sites, state preservation areas, wildlife refuges, wildlife management areas and other areas controlled by the Office of State Parks.  This important change would benefit Louisiana gun owners when they visit both state and federal lands in Louisiana. SB534 would bring Louisiana into compliance with a new Federal law that previously went into effect on February 22.

Introduced by State Senator Edwin R. Murray (D-4), SB 526 would create an unnecessary exception to the recent law that prohibits employers from denying Louisianans the right to transport and store lawfully possessed firearms in locked, privately-owned motor vehicles, including while traversing or parking in any parking lot, parking garage or other parking area. The creation of any exemption would undermine the law and undoubtedly lead to more attempts to remove our right to self-defense from places we lawfully frequent.

Please contact your State Senator TODAY and respectfully urge him or her to SUPPORT SB 534 and to OPPOSE SB 526.  Please keep checking your email and our website at www.NRAILA.org for further updates on this legislation.  To contact your Senator click here.