Can I Take My Gun To Louisiana?
If you are wondering, “can I take my gun to Louisiana?”, this post will answer all your questions and more!
Can I Take My Gun to Louisiana?
If you are wondering, “can I take my gun to Louisiana?”, this post will answer all your questions and more!
Louisiana has gun laws on the books that regulate the carrying of firearms in the state. These laws are similar to others across the country but have their own caveats. When deciding on the question, can I take my gun to Louisiana, you must understand the differences in these laws. Let’s examine the current gun laws of the state of Louisiana and how they affect you bringing your gun into the state.
Know the Difference Between Concealed & Open Carry
For the most part, for a citizen or permanent resident of Louisiana to carry a handgun concealed on their person, they must have a concealed weapon permit. As long as you have this permit, you can conceal a handgun under your clothing. There are a few examples of when no requirement for a permit exists, such as:
- You are a member of law enforcement.
- The weapon is inside of your vehicle.
- The weapon is on your private property.
Open carry laws in Louisiana allow anyone to carry a firearm in the open as long as the premises are not restricted and the carrier meets certain age and criminal conviction requirements. Some areas you are not allowed to open or conceal carry are:
- Schools
- Prisons or Jails
- Government meetings
- Airports
- State Capital
- Polling Station
- Festivals and parades where a permit is issued
- Casinos
- Court Houses
- Any federal building enforcing no gun laws
- Someone else’s private property where consent is refused
Taking My Gun to Louisiana
Now that we understand the basic firearms possession laws of the state, let’s answer, can I take my gun to Louisiana? Bringing a gun into the state of Louisiana is perfectly legal as long as the type of weapon itself or ammunition is not restricted. As an example, armor-piercing ammunition is illegal in the state.
The question then is not about bringing in the weapons, but can you carry them. For open carry, you do not have to be a citizen or permanent resident as long as you are over 18 years old and stay out of the restricted areas mentioned above. So, who can bring in and carry a concealed handgun into the state?
Military Personnel
As mentioned, a permanent resident can receive a permit to carry a concealed handgun in Louisiana. People stationed on military bases in the state are allowed to bring and carry a concealed handgun as long as they have a permit from Louisiana or a reciprocity state.
Reciprocity Laws
Louisiana has reciprocity rules that say that any other state that recognizes a concealed handgun permit from Louisiana will also have their permits recognized in the state. This means that if your state allows Louisiana citizens with a license to carry in your state, you can carry there with your own permit. That leaves thirty-seven states as of now, who are allowed to carry a concealed handgun into Louisiana.
What You Should Know
The state of Louisiana has always recognized the local community’s rights to restrict both open carry and concealed carry within their borders. This was until August of 2020 when the state ruled that no new laws or restrictions contradicting state law can be declared. It did, however, leave many restrictions that were in place before that date.
Knowing these local ordinances is important to know before traveling into certain cities in the state. It is up to the carrier to understand and know the laws before entering any areas that restrict carrying a firearm. Before traveling to different cities in Louisiana, make sure to research any local restrictions.
What Happens If I Get Charged for Unlawful Carrying?
Although Louisiana gun laws are quite clear and generous, there are times you can find yourself in trouble for a perceived violation. Being convicted of a firearms charge can impact the rest of your life. If you find yourself in a predicament where you are arrested for a gun violation, contact an attorney to defend you in the case.
Hiring the Best Lawyer to Defend Your Gun Rights
When it’s time to hire an attorney to defend a gun charge in the state of Louisiana, make sure to hire the best attorney for your case. It’s important to ensure that the gun charges attorney has the following attributes:
- The lawyer you hire needs to practice law in the local area you are charged.
- They must have experience in defending gun violation charges.
- Before taking them on to represent you, ask the criminal defense attorney questions to gauge their knowledge of the state’s gun laws.
Gun laws in Louisiana are not that much different than in other states. As long as you do your due diligence and know how you can carry and take your guns, very few issues will arise.
If ever in doubt on where you can bring your gun in the state, use caution and ask local law enforcement before finding yourself breaking any laws. In addition, hiring a reputable lawyer such as Barkemeyer Law Firm can help significantly with your case.
We hope you now know the answer to your question can I take my gun to Louisiana and wish you luck!
