Bill Would Let Louisiana Residents Carry Concealed Gun Without Permit

Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey is once again bringing back his proposal to the legislature that would allow non-felons over the age of 21 to carry a concealed gun without a permit. He says the Constitution guarantees our right to carry guns, and it doesn’t dictate how they should be carried.

“I believe that our Founding Fathers established more common sense practices, and if you choose to concealed carry or open carry, it should be your right to choose,” Ivey said.

This is the third time Ivey has proposed similar legislation. Opponents say the bill would eliminate certain safeguards. For instance, to receive a permit to carry a concealed firearm, a resident must take a safety course. But Ivey argues gun owners should always be responsible, no matter how they possess a firearm.

“If you are not comfortable carrying a firearm because you aren’t trained, it doesn’t matter if you open carry or not. If you’re uncomfortable, then you should be responsible and not carry until you’ve had the proper training,” Ivey said.

Ivey adds that prohibited persons like convicted felons would still be barred from carrying under his proposal. He says this bill is part of a larger national movement towards constitutional carrying, and other states already have similar laws on the books.

“I believe there’s 10 to 15 states who are already constitutional carry states and several more who are still making the effort to make their states constitutional carry states,” Ivey said.