Louisiana Action Needed: Multiple Gun Bills To Receive Vote

As early as today, the Louisiana Senate could consider Senate Bill 491 which would prohibit the sale, manufacture, purchase, possession, or transfer of bump stocks and other “rapid-fire” devices.  The broad and overreaching language could potentially criminalize firearm modifications such as competition triggers, and ergonomic changes that are commonly done by law-abiding gun owners to make their firearms more suitable for self-defense, competition, hunting, or even overcoming disability.  Please contact your state Senator and urge them to OPPOSE Senate Bill 491 when it comes up for a vote.

Tomorrow, the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee will hear several pieces of pro- and anti-gun legislation.  Please contact committee members and urge them to OPPOSE these anti-gun bills.

• House Bill 277, sponsored by Rep. Denise Marcelle (D -61), seeks to restrict the constitutional right of law-abiding adults aged 18 to 20 to acquire some of the most commonly-owned semi-automatic firearms for self-defense, target shooting, and hunting.

• House Bill 400, sponsored by Rep. John Bagneris (D-100), would require a ten day waiting period for the purchase of a firearm and makes any violation of the waiting period punishable by as much as five years in prison.

• House Bill 473, sponsored by Rep. Patricia Smith (D-67), mirrors much of Senate Bill 491, listed above.

• House Bill 736, sponsored by Rep. Terry Landry (D-96), would ban commonly-owned firearms by creating a broad definition of so-called “assault weapons” that includes a semi-automatic rifle that is threaded for a suppressor or a detachable magazine with the capacity to hold more than 10 rounds.

• House Bill 852, sponsored by Rep. Gary Carter (D-102), would require an individual to seek a licensed firearm dealer to conduct a criminal background check prior to purchasing or transferring a firearm to another individual, including purchases at gun shows. 

Please contact committee members and urge them to OPPOSE HB 277, HB 400, HB 473, HB 736 and HB 852.   

The committee will also be considering three pro-gun bills on Tuesday.  Please contact committee members and urge them to SUPPORT the following pro-gun bills:

• House Bill 602, sponsored by Rep Blake Miguez (R-49), would allow for teachers, school employees, and administrators who possess a valid concealed handgun permit to carry a concealed firearm into any school, school campus, or school bus.

• House Bill 412, sponsored by Rep. Barry Ivey (R-65), recognizes the right to carry a firearm for self-defense without having to get government permission to do so.

Please contact committee members and urge them to SUPPORT HB 602 and HB 412.

Also tomorrow, the Senate Judiciary B Committee will consider Senate Bill 185 which would exempt certain parrishes from the existing preemption laws that protect law-abiding citizens from a patchwork of rules and regulations to follow in Louisiana.  Please contact committee members and urge them to be present and vote against this anti-gun bill.