On Thursday, June 24, Governor John Bel Edwards vetoed Senate Bill 118 which would have made it legal for residents of Louisiana to carry concealed handguns without a concealed handgun license.  

On Friday, Governor Edwards released a statement which explained the veto.  The governor said:

“I am a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, and an enthusiastic outdoorsman and hunter. But I simply cannot support carrying a concealed carry firearm without proper education and safety training – and I believe the majority of Louisianans agree with me. Our current system strikes the right balance of ensuring that people can bear arms while also keeping reasonable permitting and training processes in place. It is a matter of basic public safety and numerous law enforcement leaders across the state opposed the bill for this reason, especially as it relates to the enhanced risk posed to their officers. Simply put, it is not too much to ask that a person who wishes to carry a concealed weapon in public be required to attend basic marksmanship and safety training so they understand the regulations associated with such an action. That’s reasonable and responsible, and for these reasons, I have vetoed the permitless carry bill.”

The National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) rebuffed the veto and argued that “This important legislation ensures that citizens are able to exercise their right to self-defense without government red tape or delays.”  The NRA is calling for state lawmakers to override the Governor’s veto of the “permitless carry bill.”

---

To report an issue or typo with this article – CLICK HERE