Smarterlam / CC
A bill to allow citizens 21 and older to carry a concealed handgun without a permit handily made its way through the House Wednesday. Thibodaux Representative Bryan Fontenot’s bill garnered lively debate. Rep Aimee Freeman spoke against the bill and read a statement from New Orleans PD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson.
“The current laws in place regarding the illegal carrying of concealed weapons have played a major role in reducing incidents of gun violence,” said Freeman.
Representative Mack Cormier said it is a God-given right to arm yourself and everyone should have the opportunity to defend themselves.
“People deserve the right, the same right no matter what their socioeconomic status and that’s my reasoning why this bill is a good bill,” said Cormier.
The House did reject an amendment by Oil City Representative Danny McCormick to reduce the minimum age to carry a concealed weapon from age 21 to 18. The amendment failed 29-69.
Freeman said any legislation that has the potential to bring thousands of untrained individuals with weapons to the streets of New Orleans mixed with alcohol is a deadly combination.
“Law enforcement officers will also be put at increased risk when encountering an individual, they do not know is armed it is for these reasons that I vehemently oppose this legislation,” said Freeman.
Fontenot said Louisiana is behind because other states already have constitutional carry, and it hasn’t had a negative impact.
“Violence hasn’t gone up, police interactions haven’t gone up, police officers haven’t died. Mississippi, Arkansas, and soon-to-be Texas will be constitutional carry states. We will be the last state standing here,” said Fontenot.
The bill passed 72-28. It now heads to the Senate where last week they approved a similar bill, which like the House version is more than enough to override a gubernatorial vet. However, veto overrides are extremely rare in Louisiana.
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