Constitutional Carry Bill Clears Lousiana State Senate
Darian Douraghy
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The Louisiana state senate just approved a bill that will make Constitutional Carry the law of the land. Louisianans 21 and older will no longer need to obtain a permit in order to exercise their second amendment right to concealed carry a firearm.
The bill passed on a veto-proof 27 to 11 vote.
“It is about freedom, freedom to do what you want to in this world and to be able to protect your family and your property without having to ask the government for permission,” said bill author and West Monroe Senator Jay Morris. Morris clarified that felons would still not be eligible to carry a firearm under the new law.
Houma Senator “Big” Mike Fesi was a big supporter of the bill. Fesi cited a recent mass shooting in Houma as an example of how bills such as this can save lives.
“Friday night we had five people shot in one of the clubs in Houma, if somebody would have been carrying they could have probably took the guy out now they still trying to find who it was,” said Fesi.
The legislation also allows any American visiting Louisiana from out of state to conceal carry a firearm without a permit.
Lafayette Senator Gerald Boudreaux opposed the bill on the grounds that it will make it easier for criminals to obtain guns.
“You see what happens is when we continue to say everybody get a gun, it’s like the wild wild west,” said Boudreaux who noted the legislation is opposed by the Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police.
New Orleans Senator Karen Carter Peterson attempted to have the bill renamed the “Thoughts and Prayers Act”. The Senate swiftly rejected this.
“You know it is inconsistent with our values, you know it is not smart, you know it is not good for our citizens to do this, you know that in your heart,” said Peterson.
Morris’ bill will now move on to the state House of Representatives for a final vote. Given the veto-proof majority of the state senate vote and recent 2A trends nationwide, things are looking good for The Pelican State.
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