BATON ROUGE, LA. – The Louisiana chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, released the following statement in response to House Republicans passing SB 1, legislation to allow permitless carry, which would effectively roll back Louisiana’s foundational gun safety policy that requires Louisianans to receive training and have a permit to carry a concealed firearm in public. The bill now will go to Governor Landry’s desk.
This vote comes despite polling showing over 80 percent of gun owners, non-gun owners, Republicans, Democrats, and Independents agree that high safety standards are critical in issuing concealed carry permits.
“Louisiana Republicans have chosen to make our restaurants, schools, grocery stores, parks, and everywhere else we go more vulnerable to gun violence,” said Angelle Bradford, a volunteer with the Louisiana chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Instead of serving the Louisians they were sworn to protect, these lawmakers are bowing to a gun lobby that feeds on their political ambition to rake in millions of dollars — all while not taking any responsibility for the role it plays in tearing our families apart.”
Permitless carry would allow people to carry concealed, loaded handguns in public without a permit, criminal history check, or safety training, dismantling Louisiana’s system of responsible gun ownership. New research has also revealed that road rage shootings are at the highest level since 2018 and that states with permitless carry have by far the highest rate of road rage shootings with injuries or deaths. In fact, permitless carry states have nearly triple the rate of road rage shooting victimization than those states with strong gun safety laws, including concealed carry permit requirements.
Permitless carry takes away a vital tool from law enforcement to ensure a person carrying a gun in public isn’t a criminal with a dangerous history. When asked about permitless carry, East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreaux III said, “This is an absolutely terrible bill, not only for the men and women who wear this badge and serve the public, but it’s a terrible bill for the public as well.” This poses an exponential threat to every law enforcement officer in this state.” Law enforcement across Louisiana in addition to other states like Ohio, Alabama, Tennessee, Texas, and South Carolina have been vocal opponents of permitless carry legislation.
In an average year, 1,125 people die and 2,936 are wounded by guns in Louisiana. Louisiana has the 2nd-highest rate of gun deaths in the US. In Louisiana, 84% of all homicides involve a gun, compared to 78% nationwide. Guns are the leading cause of death among children and teens in Louisiana. If Louisiana had the gun death rate of our National Leaders—the eight states with the strongest gun safety laws—we could save 10,354 lives in the next decade. More information about gun violence in Louisiana is available here.
If you would like to speak to a policy expert or Student Demand Action or Moms Demand Action volunteers who are greatly involved in this fight, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
