A few weeks ago, our state legislature kicked off another round of lawmaking, with a few gun rights bills coming up for debate.
Probably the most interesting is House Bill 494, sponsored by state Rep. Barry Ivey. The bill would, in effect, amend the state constitution to say that the right to keep and bear arms includes the right to concealed carry without a permit — a much-needed change to existing law.
In Louisiana, a constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds majority in the state House and Senate for passage. In 2012, the state adopted an amendment that makes it clear that any restrictions on the Second Amendment would be “subject to strict scrutiny.”
At the moment, a citizen of Louisiana can legally obtain a permit to carry concealed weapons after filling out paperwork with the state police and paying a fee. The passage of this law would bring the Louisiana state constitution more in line with the U.S. Constitution, which states that gun rights “shall not be
infringed.”
I’d say having to fill out paper work and paying a fee to the state is
infringement.
Louisiana already has the loosest gun laws in the union, with citizens able to easily obtain concealed carry permits, and to openly carry firearms without a
permit.
That’s right, guys. Provided that you are not in a designated government space, church or one of the fish-in-barrel areas known as “gun-free zones,” you can strap your Colt M1911 to your hip and walk about freely, and no one can do a thing about it. However, open carriers are often subject to harassment by police unaware of the law, which can make exercising this right very risky at times.
What this bill would do is allow you to simply wear a coat or have your shirt untucked over your firearm without being in danger of committing a serious crime. It aims to decriminalize
carrying-while-chilly.
It is nonsensical to keep a system in place that restricts the ability to carry a firearm concealed, when there is no such paperwork or fee system involved with carrying one openly.
In addition to Ivey’s bill, there is a bill sponsored by Rep. Joe Lopinto that would allow off-duty cops to carry into bars and civilians to bring their concealed guns into restaurants that serve alcohol, but make most of their sales from food.
wThink Chili’s.
There is nothing wrong with a law enforcement officer carrying his or her firearm anywhere. And for civilians that concealed carry, it is already illegal for them to have a weapon on their person while even marginally tipsy anywhere — .05 percent BAC being their legal
limit.
Opposition to Ivey’s bill will likely raise the question as to why it is necessary for someone to carry firearm at all. The answer is simple: there is not always a law enforcement officer around to save the day. And last time I checked, I do not need a reason to exercise a right.
There also seems to be a statist obsession with knowing which citizens are gun owners, especially which ones carry their firearms regularly. In a free society where inalienable, natural and human rights are constitutionally protected, it is absolutely no one’s, much less the state’s, business to keep tabs on who is exercising their liberty as an American citizen.
In addition to not having your rights restricted, a side effect of not having to obtain a permit is that people would more often be on their best behavior. Nothing deters crime like not knowing who
is packing.
Ryan McGehee is a 21-year-old political science, history and international studies senior from Zachary, La.