Lawmaker: Gun law should be consistent around the state

By: Tryfon Boukouvidis, LSU Manship School News Service

Published: May 22, 2019

BATON ROUGE — The Louisiana House on Tuesday passed proposals that would expand the state’s reach over local regulation of gun control and boost existing “stand your ground” laws, indicating a momentum of gun legislation in the state.

The House voted 68-30 to support a bill by Rep. Blake Miguez, R-Erath, which would eliminate the authority of local governments to prohibit the possession of firearms in certain businesses and public buildings.

On the House floor, Miguez contended that the current law is “a patchwork of regulations (that) confuse those trying to follow the law.” Gun law should be consistent around the state, he added.

Rep. Joe Marino, I-Gretna, expressed the position of the Louisiana Municipal Association, an organization that advocates for community development, that municipalities should retain their authority to designate firearm-free zones.

Several members of the Black Legislative Caucus also opposed the bill.

Rep. Terry Landry, D-New Iberia, said local governments know what is best for their residents.

“We cannot continue trumping local government rights,” Landry added.

In his rebuttal, Miguez highlighted the importance of Second Amendment rights.

“A good guy with a gun always stops a bad guy with a gun,” Miguez said.

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