Under Louisiana law, illegal carrying of weapon includes the intentional concealment of any firearm or the ownership, possession, custody or use of any firearm, or other instrumentality customarily used as a dangerous weapon, by any person with the intent to commit a crime. [i]
“Firearm” means any pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun, machine gun, submachine gun, or assault rifle, which is designed to fire or is capable of firing fixed cartridge ammunition or from which a shot or projectile is discharged by an explosive. [ii]
To qualify for a concealed handgun permit, a citizen shall make sworn application to the deputy secretary of public safety services of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections and agree in writing to hold harmless and indemnify the state for any and all liability arising out of use of the concealed handgun. The applicant must be 21 years of age or older and a resident of the state and have been a resident for six months or longer immediately preceding the filing of the application. The applicant should not suffer from a mental or physical infirmity or is ineligible to possess a firearm by virtue of having been convicted of a felony. The applicant should not be a drug or alcohol abuser or a fugitive from justice, nor should have been dishonorably discharged from Armed Forces.
An applicant shall also demonstrate competence with a handgun by completing any National Rifle Association handguns safety or training course conducted by a National Rifle Association certified instructor within the preceding twelve months.
The fire marshal shall issue a commission to any state arson investigator who qualifies as P.O.S.T. certified to carry firearms allowing him to carry and use firearms.[iii] The authority to carry and use firearms is limited to the power to carry weapons while acting in the course and scope of their duties as local arson investigators. The provisions of La. R.S. 14:95 shall not apply to local arson investigators who carry concealed weapons while acting in the course and scope of their duties.
Carrying a firearm, or dangerous weapon, by a student or non student on school property, at school-sponsored functions or firearm-free zone is similarly prohibited.[iv] However, this provision shall not apply to a federal, state, or local law enforcement officer in the performance of his official duties, any person having the written permission of the principal, school official or employee acting in the course of his/her employment or a student acting under the direction of such school official or employee. People who carry firearms in violation of this provision shall be imprisoned at hard labor for not more than five years.
The fee for obtaining permit is $50 for two year permit and $100 for four year permit. The fee for renewal is $25/$50 respectively. Negligent carrying of a concealed handgun is the intentional or criminally negligent carrying by any person, whether or not authorized or licensed to carry or possess a concealed handgun and is punishable under La. R.S. 40:1382.
Louisiana recognizes permits from Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
The following states recognizes a Louisiana permit – Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming.
[i] La. R.S. 14:95
[ii] La. R.S. 14:95.2.1
[iii] La. R.S. 40:1563.1
[iv] La. R.S. 14:95.2
