Louisiana: Governor Jindal Signs NRA-Backed Measures into Law!

This week, Governor Bobby Jindal (R) signed three pro-Second Amendment bills that were passed during the 2015 session of the Louisiana Legislature which ended on June 11.  Please take a moment to send an email thanking Governor Jindal for signing HB 446, SB 133 and SB 212 into law and for supporting our Second Amendment rights and Louisiana's sporting heritage.

House Bill 446, sponsored by state Representative Blake Miguez (R-New Iberia), authorizes firearm accident prevention and safety instruction based on NRA's Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program for elementary school students.  The program's lifesaving message "If you see a gun:  STOP!  DON’T TOUCH.  RUN AWAY. TELL A GROWN UP" will now reach even more Louisiana children thanks to passage of this important legislation.  The measure will take effect on August 1, in time for the upcoming school year.

Current Louisiana law allows parishes to use their zoning authority to regulate hunting and shooting in "heavily populated areas.”  Senate Bill 133, sponsored by state Senator Barrow Peacock (R-Shreveport), specifically excludes from the definition of "heavily populated area" any tract of land that is greater than 5 acres and which includes no more than one single-family residence on the parcel or tract.  Lack of available land on which to hunt is a serious challenge that sportsmen are facing in Louisiana and across the country.  SB 133 addresses this challenge while balancing concerns about safety in the affected areas.  This bill will take effect on August 1 as well.

Senate Bill 212, sponsored by state Senator Rick Ward (R-Port Allen), allows bowhunters to carry any caliber firearm with them for protection while in the field and takes effect immediately. This bill fixes the previous statutes which only permitted bowhunters to carry pistols no larger than .22 caliber with snake shot or rat shot ammunition.