Bill would restrict possession of guns at public gatherings

Times Picayune ^ | March 17, 2009 | Ed Anderson

[BBell]

N.O. Demo aiming to reduce violence

BATON ROUGE -- Carrying or using firearms at public events such as block parties, New Year's Eve celebrations and Carnival parades could send the violator to jail for at least five years if the Legislature enacts a bill filed by a New Orleans lawmaker.

Democratic Rep. Juan LaFonta said he has filed the bill for the session starting April 27 as a way to reduce violence at events popular to New Orleans including second-line processions at funerals and Carnival Indian parades.

"We are about to kill a part of our culture," LaFonta said, referring to the spate of shootings in the past several months, culminating in a Mardi Gras shooting in which seven people were injured and three suspects arrested.

"This will not curb the ability of anyone to carry a weapon legally," LaFonta said.

His House Bill 44 would make it a crime to possess or discharge a firearm within 1,000 feet of "any public place where 50 or more people are present at the time the firearm is possessed or discharged."

LaFonta's bill defines a public place as public or private property used for a public purpose and to which the general public has access -- including clubs, hotels, lounges, restaurants, motels and places of entertainment.

The bill makes exceptions for hunting grounds, law enforcement officers who are performing official duties, historical re-enactment's and firearms stored in cars or in keeping with laws governing lawfully carrying a concealed weapon.

LaFonta said the bill requires anyone who is convicted of illegally possessing a firearm in a public area to be sentenced to at least five years -- and up to seven years in jail -- and be fined not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000. Individuals convicted of

[BBell]

This bill won't effect those with a concealed carry permit. It sounds like a pretty straight forward bill aimed at thugs and gansters. The problem with gun bills is that most are redundant,open to abuse my authorities and have little effect on crime.

New Year's Eve celebrations are specifically mentioned, a lot of people in New Orleans love to shoot their guns in the air on New Year's eve.

[bayouranger]

6 people were shot in front of the house we were staying at by a group of 504 Boyz. 2 of them even had ankle bracelets on while committing the crime.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

There you go!....that should stop terrorists!

[BBell]

I'm shocked that the ankle bracelets weren’t a deterrent./sarc

[sourcery]

The author of this bill wants more gun massacres: He wants those who are likely to use guns responsibly (as proven by the fact that they would choose to obey laws such as his) to be disarmed at public events, while those who are far more likely to use guns criminally (as proven by the fact that they would break laws such as his) to be armed at such events.

Why do voters tolerate such obvious evil intent in their politicians?

[2harddrive]

His ACTUAL intent is to INCREASE violence, pilgrim.

Say it loud, say it PROUD:

O ne

B ig

A ss

M istake

A merica!

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"New Year's Eve celebrations are specifically mentioned, a lot of people in New Orleans love to shoot their guns in the air on New Year's eve."

Are you telling me that there is not already a law on the books concerning an illegal discharge of a weapon? I would think shooting a gun in the air randomly is already a crime. If not, that's the only part of this bill that is supportable. Not being allowed to carry a firearm at public gatherings, well the way they are defining it, doesn't sound like you can carry too much. That's a bunch of bullhockey!

[gimme1ibertee]

a way to reduce violence at events popular to New Orleans

Yeah....take the guns away and they won't resort to knives,baseball bats or ice picks-right? Sheesh.

[LimaLimaMikeFoxtrot]

I'm not sure about this so correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought it was already illegal to carry in places like movie theaters, sporting events and any place a large crowd gathers.

Anyone?

[messierhunter]

His House Bill 44 would make it a crime to possess or discharge a firearm within 1,000 feet of "any public place where 50 or more people are present at the time the firearm is possessed or discharged."

I wonder if anti-gun protestors could abuse this to effectively shut down gun ranges. Just get 50 or more protestors + media to stand on the side of the road within a 1,000 feet of an indoor gun range and ask that the police arrest everyone inside who is holding a gun.

[BBell]

As I said in my comment, most firearms laws are redundant

Prohibited Locations

R.S. 40:1379.3 (N) states that 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:

A law enforcement office, station, or building;

A detention facility, prison, or jail;

A courthouse or courtroom, provided that a judge may carry such a weapon in his own courtroom;

A polling place;

A meeting place of the governing authority of a political subdivision;

The state capitol building;

Any portion of an airport facility where the carrying of firearms is prohibited under federal law, except that no person shall be prohibited from carrying any legal firearm into the terminal, if the firearm is encased for shipment, for the purpose of checking such firearm as lawful baggage;

Any church, synagogue, mosque or similar place of worship;

A parade or demonstration for which a permit is issued by a governmental entity;

Any portion of the permitted area of an establishment that has been granted a Class A-General retail permit, as defined in Part II of Chapter 1 or Part II of Chapter 2 of Title 26 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises.

Any school "firearm free zone" as defined in R.S. 14:95.6.

The provisions of R.S. 40:1379.3 (N) shall not limit the right of a property owner, lessee, or other lawful custodian to prohibit or restrict access of those persons possessing a concealed handgun pursuant to a permit issued under this Section. No individual to whom a concealed handgun permit is issued may carry such concealed handgun into the private residence of another without first receiving the consent of that person.

http://www.lsp.org/handguns.html#prohibited

[BBell]

"LaFonta's bill defines a public place as public or private property used for a public purpose and to which the general public has access -- including clubs, hotels, lounges, restaurants, motels and places of entertainment.

The bill makes exceptions for hunting grounds, law enforcement officers who are performing official duties, historical re-enactment's and firearms stored in cars or in keeping with laws governing lawfully carrying a concealed weapon."

I don't see gun ranges mentioned but I would like to see a protest at a gun range in Louisiana. It would not be pretty. I mentioned in my comment that guns laws can be an opening for abuse by authorities

[messierhunter]

I don't see gun ranges mentioned

Which would worry me if I lived there.

but I would like to see a protest at a gun range in Louisiana. It would not be pretty. I mentioned in my comment that guns laws can be an opening for abuse by authorities

This is true, but personally given the current political wind I'm also concerned that radical liberal activists can act even faster than, or in concert with, radical liberal authorities. Thinking like an sob libertard, I can imagine trying to organize a surprise protest event under the guise of some innocent gathering next door to an indoor gun range where the patrons don't even see or hear the gathering fascists. Surprise, the activists call police and demand that the gun range patrons be arrested for carrying guns. All it would take is one bad cop to make a messy situation.

[JABit]

Louisiana is an OPEN CARRY state; you do not need any permit as long as your weapon is visible. This bill most certainly will affect that law.

[Just another Joe]

And thugs and gangsters are really going to pay attention to ANOTHER law that says they aren't supposed to have firearms, right?

An armed society is a polite society.

Arm ALL or arm NONE!

[NonLinear]

His House Bill 44 would make it a crime to possess or discharge a firearm within 1,000 feet of "any public place where 50 or more people are present at the time the firearm is possessed or discharged."

So pretty much anywhere is off limits in New Orleans.

[JABit]

Please see http://www.louisianacarry.org/laws/index.htm for a list of current Louisiana firearm laws.

[BBell]

I wnet here

Louisiana state patrol/handguns

[BBell]

I know Louisiana is an open carry state. The Louisiana State patrol list a parade or demonstration for which a permit is issued by a governmental entity as a prohibited area for concealed carry. Can I take this to mean a Mardi Gras parade in NOLA?

Louisiana State patrol concealed carry prohibited areas

[BBell]

"Are you telling me that there is not already a law on the books concerning an illegal discharge of a weapon? I would think shooting a gun in the air randomly is already a crime."

As I said; most gun laws are redundant. I guess this bill will make it so when there is a group of revilers standing around on New Years eve and one of them starts shooting in the air the shooter can look at a minimum of five years now. I don't know what the current punishment is. I don't look for this to pass, Bobby Jindal gets an A+ from the NRA and Louisianans like their guns.