[Chindo18Z]

What is the general firearms/shooting sports/CCW climate like in Louisiana?
I will probably be assigned there next year (US Military). I've already perused Packing.Org for basic understanding of firearms/CCW laws. Just interested in antecdotal info concerning availability of gunshops, ranges, retail firearms market, used firearms market, ease of CCW issuance, self-defense statutes, & overall "gun friendliness" (general public, local government, & law enforcement). Sorry if this sounds like a lot...just want a feel for my potential new home. Thanx in Advance...:D

[iluvG.R.I.T.S]

Hey Chindo im from south Louisiana New Iberia to be exact and we have plenty of fine fireams stores and gunshops. Got a real nice range down here to called Barney's. As far as the CCW is concerned i've just been shooting a lil over a year and im about to look into a CCW also. Here's a few links to help you get started. http://www.mycopshop.com/ http://www.thesportsmen.com/
http://www.lafayetteshooters.com/

[Guntalk]

I live in Louisiana.

We have a pretty good CCW law. It's an expensive license, and the State Police sneeked in a provision that requires a recurrent training class for each renewal (4 years), but . . .

Anyone can carry a loaded handgun in a car. No permit needed.

We also have a "shoot the carjacker" law.

Most law enforcement folks here like and support self defense.

ANd we have a number of good shooting ranges.

Where are you moving to?

[iluvG.R.I.T.S]

What part of L.A. are you from guntalk?

[Chindo18Z]

Thanks for the replies...appreciate the links.

Guntalk: Enjoy your shows. Will be moving to Ft Polk.

[larry408]

I had a LA CCW permit but let it expire. You can get a Florida Non-Resident permit. Is is $115.00 for 5 years and is good for about 20 states now.

[Matthew Courtney]

New Orleans and Baton Rouge can be bass ackwards at times. The rest of the state views guns the same way we view dogs, women, and beer. Let me know if you make it down. I am in Lake Charles and would be happy to show you around.

[Hazwaste]

Hey Matthew, I'm in Lake Charles too.

In answer to the original question, I thought the fee was much too high, and the places that are off-limits for CCW are stupid (church, parade, sports arenas...basically the types of places that a terrorist or nutcase would be most likely to hit). For a state with an "F" from the Brady Bunch, I'd expect a less restrictive permit.

[Matthew Courtney]

Hazwaste,

Read to law more closely.... you can carry at a parade, just not in a parade. You can carry at your church with the permission of your pastor (no CCW permit needed). There is no prohibition on sports arena's.

So when do you want to go shooting?

Matthew

[XavierBreath]

You're right Matthew! I never noticed that, and it is not the way the law is taught in the class. Veery interesting!

[Preacherman]

I'm in LA too - Alexandria area. If you're going to Fort Polk, you won't be far away. We'll have to shoot together sometime!

LA is very gun-friendly, with the exception of New Orleans and (to a lesser extent) Baton Rouge, where the local leftists are a bit anal about such things. The rest of the state is a huntin', shootin' and fishin' sort of place. Use of firearms for personal defence usually gets you a rousing "Well done!" from the cops and a round of applause from your neighbors.

CCW is easy to come by (although a bit expensive compared to some states).

[Hazwaste]

Matthew, I checked the state police web site again to confirm restricted locations in LA:

"Any church, synagogue, mosque or similar place of worship;
A parade or demonstration for which a permit is issued by a governmental entity"

There are no exceptions given on the state police web site (that I have found) that allow for carry with pastor's permission or if one is not IN the parade but just watching it from the side.

Is there another location from which you found the information mentioned? Thanks.

[Matthew Courtney]

LRS 40:1379.3 Subsection N Paragraphs (8) and (9)

N. No concealed handgun may be carried into and no concealed handgun permit issued pursuant to this Section shall authorize or entitle a permittee to carry a concealed handgun in any of the following:

(8) Any church, synagogue, mosque, or other similar place of worship.

(9) A parade or demonstration for which a permit is issued by a governmental entity.

The law specifically says that the permit does not authorize or entitle one to carry in any church, synagogue, mosque, or other similar place of worship. It does not say that the pastor cannot authorize concealed carry. Just like I may authorize concealed carry by people at a place of business where I am the proprietor, a pastor may authorize concealed carry at a place of business where he is the proprietor, i.e. his church.

The law also specifically says that a permit does not authorize one to carry in a parade. It does not say that you cannot carry at a parade. As the permit authorizes carry statewide, excluding only listed exceptions, a permittee may carry concealed at a parade.

Source for LRS 40:1479.3 http://www.legis.state.la.us/tsrs/tsrs.asp?lawbody=RS&title=40&section=1379.3

So when do you want to go shooting?

[Hazwaste]

Lunchtime is good for me. Where do you go to shoot?

[Matthew Courtney]

The most convenient place for me is Hunter's supply on Kirkman Street just south of I-210. I'll PM you with my phone #. Call me and we'll work out the details.

[BB93YJ]

What is that little line on ya'll license plates, something about a "Sportsmans Paradise" is it?

Louisana has turned out some pretty fine shooters and gunsmiths too, Jerry Mickulek(sp?), some old guy named Clark....etc., etc. ;)

[RustyHammer]

Sportsmans Paradise

Very gun friendly place, as long as you abide by the laws.

Any state where the Governor tells women to buy handguns and learn how to use them .... can't be too bad!

If you're headed to New Orleans area, E-mail me and I can point you in the right direction as far as ranges and such go.

Lock and load,

/Rusty