By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry on Tuesday signed “Constitutional Carry” legislation—Senate Bill 1— into law, making it the 28th state to allow permitless carry of defensive firearms without requiring a license or permit.
According to Fox News, Gov. Landry issued the following statement: “Today, we join 27 other states in passing Constitutional Carry. I promised the folks of Louisiana that I would champion Constitutional Carry into law, and within two months, I have honored that commitment.”
Landry, a Republican, took office earlier this year. He had been in office only 57 days, having succeeded former Gov. John Bel Edwards, a two-term Democrat.
The National Rifle Association lobbied for the measure, and Fox News noted the bill, sponsored by Republican State Sen. Blake Miguez, takes effect July 4.
“This victory is a shining example of what can be achieved when freedom-loving legislators in both the House and the Senate work in unison,” said Randy Kozuch, executive director of NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action (ILA). “Our deepest gratitude goes to Sen. Blake Miguez and House Speaker Pro Tempore Mike Johnson for their pivotal roles in spearheading this life-saving legislation and expeditiously moving it to the Governor’s desk.”
“Today,” said Sen. Miguez, “Louisiana asserts its unwavering commitment to the Second Amendment by enacting Constitutional Carry, a move that embodies the absolute right of law-abiding citizens to bear arms. Governor Landry’s pivotal role, combined with the steadfast support from legislators across both chambers, has been crucial in reaffirming our dedication to the rights of law-abiding citizens. Our success owes much to the tireless efforts of NRA members and Second Amendment defenders throughout the state, whose advocacy has been indispensable.”
Also hailing Landry’s signature on the bill was the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.
“Louisiana lawmakers and Gov. Landry have taken a bold step for public safety,” said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb. “Meanwhile, legislatures and governors in the remaining 22 holdout states are signaling that they do not trust their citizens with the most fundamental right of all, the right of self-defense. What a shameful message to telegraph to the people they are elected to serve.”
Louisiana now joins Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming where carrying without a permit is the law. CCRKBA said it is “fitting” that the law take effect July 4, the nation’s independence day.
“At the time of the Founding,” Gottlieb noted, “citizens of the newly-established United States did not need permits to carry firearms for personal protection. They would have considered such a requirement to be absurd. You should not need a government permit to exercise a constitutionally-enshrined right. Today, more than half of the states have returned to this baseline of liberty, and we can only hope that the remaining states will soon amend their narrow attitudes about Second Amendment rights.”
