Louisiana

Permit Eligibility

To qualify for a concealed handgun permit, a Louisiana resident shall:

1. Make sworn application to the deputy secretary of public safety services of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections. The providing of false or misleading information on the application or any documents submitted with the application shall be grounds for the denial or revocation of a concealed handgun permit. The application shall reflect training in pistols, revolvers, or both. Any permittee under this Section shall notify the department of any address or name change within thirty days of the change. Failure to timely notify the department of a name or address change may result in suspension of the permit for up to thirty days.
2. In the case of an applicant who is not a United States citizen, the applicant shall provide any alien or admission number issued by the United States Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and any basis, if applicable, for an exception to the prohibitions of 18 U.S.C. 922.
3. Agree in writing to hold harmless and indemnify the department, the state, or any peace officer for any and all liability arising out of the issuance or use of the concealed handgun permit.
4. Be a resident of the state.
5. Be twenty-one years of age or older.
6. Not suffer from a mental or physical infirmity due to disease, illness, or intellectual disability which prevents the safe handling of a handgun.
7. Not be ineligible to possess a firearm by virtue of having been convicted of a felony. A conviction for a felony offense which has been expunged prior to August 1, 2014, pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 44:9 or on or after August 1, 2014, pursuant to Title XXXIV of the Code of Criminal Procedure shall not be considered a conviction for the purposes of this Paragraph if ten years have elapsed since the completion of the resident's probation, parole, or suspended sentence. However, the provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply to a conviction for a crime of violence as defined in R.S. 14:2(B) even if that conviction has been expunged. A conviction for which a person has been pardoned by the governor shall not be considered a conviction for purposes of this Paragraph, unless that pardon expressly provides that the person may not ship, transport, possess, or receive firearms.
8. Not have been committed, either voluntarily or involuntarily, for the abuse of a controlled dangerous substance, as defined by R.S. 40:961 and 964, or been found guilty of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a misdemeanor under the laws of this state or similar laws of any other state relating to a controlled dangerous substance within a five-year period immediately preceding the date on which the application is submitted, or be presently charged under indictment or a bill of information for such an offense.
9. Not chronically and habitually use alcoholic beverages to the extent that his normal faculties are impaired. It shall be presumed that an applicant or permittee chronically and habitually uses alcoholic beverages to the extent that his normal faculties are impaired if the applicant has been admitted, either voluntarily or involuntarily, for treatment as an alcoholic within the five-year period immediately preceding the date on which the application is submitted, or at any time after the application has been submitted.
10. Not have entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to or been found guilty of a crime of violence as defined in R.S. 14:2 at the misdemeanor level, unless five years have elapsed since completion of sentence or any other conditions set by the court have been fulfilled, or unless the conviction was set aside and the prosecution dismissed, prior to the date on which the application is submitted.
11. Not have been convicted of, have entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, or not be charged under indictment or a bill of information for any crime of violence or any crime punishable by imprisonment for a term of one year or greater. However, a person who has been convicted of a violation of 18 U.S.C. 491 shall be permitted to qualify for a concealed handgun permit if fifteen or more years has elapsed between the date of application and the successful completion or service of any sentence, deferred adjudication, or period of probation or parole. A conviction for a felony offense which has been expunged prior to August 1, 2014, pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 44:9 or on or after August 1, 2014, pursuant to Title XXXIV of the Code of Criminal Procedure shall not be considered a conviction for the purposes of this Paragraph if ten years have elapsed since the completion of the resident's probation, parole, or suspended sentence. However, the provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply to a conviction for a crime of violence as defined in R.S. 14:2(B) even if that conviction has been expunged. A conviction for which a person has been pardoned by the governor shall not be considered a conviction for purposes of this Paragraph, unless that pardon expressly provides that the person may not ship, transport, possess, or receive firearms.
12. Not be a fugitive from justice.
13. Not be an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana, depressants, stimulants, or narcotic drugs.
14. Not have been adjudicated to be mentally deficient or been committed to a mental institution, unless the resident's right to possess a firearm has been restored pursuant to R.S. 28:57.
15. Not be an illegal alien in the United States.
16. Not have been discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States with a discharge characterized as "Under Other than Honorable Conditions", a "Bad Conduct Discharge", or a "Dishonorable Discharge". In the case of Commissioned Officers and Warrant Officers of the United States Armed Forces, the punishment of "Dismissal" rendered subject to a verdict of "guilty" at a trial by military court-martial is deemed to be disqualifying under this Paragraph. For the purposes of this Paragraph, the United States Coast Guard is considered an armed force.
17. Not have a history of engaging in violent behavior. There shall be a rebuttable presumption that an applicant has a history of engaging in violent behavior upon proof that, within a ten-year period immediately preceding the date of the application, the applicant has been arrested or charged on three or more occasions for any crime of violence as defined in R.S. 14:2(B), or has been arrested or charged on two or more occasions for any crime of violence that may be punished by death.
18. Not be ineligible to possess or receive a firearm under 18 U.S.C. 922.
19. Not have had a permit denied within one year prior to the most recent application.
20. Not have had a permit revoked within four years prior to the most recent application.

La. Stat. tit. 40 § 1379.3

Training Requirements

In addition to the requirements of Subsection C of this Section, an applicant shall demonstrate competence with a handgun by any one of the following:

1. Completion of any National Rifle Association handguns safety or training course conducted by a National Rifle Association certified instructor within the preceding twelve months.
2. Completion of any Department of Public Safety and Corrections approved firearms safety or training course or class available to the general public offered by a law enforcement agency, college, or private or public institution or organization or firearms training school within the preceding twelve months.
3. Completion of any law enforcement firearms safety or training course or class approved by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections and offered for correctional officers, investigators, special deputies, or any division or subdivision of law enforcement or security enforcement within the preceding twelve months.
4. Possession of a current valid license to carry a concealed weapon issued by a parish law enforcement officer.
5. Completion of any firearms training or safety course or class approved by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections within the preceding twelve months.
6. Completion of a law enforcement training academy program certified by the Council on Peace Officer Standards and Training. However, any person retired from full-time service as a Louisiana peace officer need only demonstrate that he was properly certified by the Council on Peace Officer Standards and Training at the time of retirement.
7. Completion of small arms training within the preceding sixty months while serving with the armed forces of the United States as evidenced by any of the following:
   1. For personnel released or retired from active duty, possession of an "Honorable Discharge" or "General Discharge Under Honorable Conditions" as evidenced by a Department of Defense Form 214 (DD-214).
   2. For personnel on active duty or serving in one of the National Guard or reserve components of the Armed Forces, possession of certification of completion of basic training with service record evidence of having successfully completed small arms training and qualification.
8. The National Rifle Association's personal protection course.
9. For personnel released or retired from active duty or the National Guard or reserve components of the Armed Forces for more than sixty months, possession of proof indicating combat service and an "Honorable Discharge" or "General Discharge Under Honorable Conditions" as evidenced by a Department of Defense Form 214 (DD-214) and completion of the following:
   1. A three-hour course of instruction on the use of deadly force and conflict resolution which shall include a review of R.S. 14:18 through 22 and which may include a review of any other laws relating to the use of deadly force within the preceding sixty months.
   2. A one-hour course of instruction on child access prevention within the preceding sixty months.
10. Completion of any United States Concealed Carry Association handgun safety or training course conducted by a United States Concealed Carry Association certified instructor within the preceding twelve months.

Instructors for any class, training, or course of instruction authorized by this Subsection, except for small arms training in military service as provided in Subparagraph (1)(g) of this Subsection, shall be certified by any of the following:

1. The Council on Peace Officer Standards and Training as a firearms instructor.
2. The National Rifle Association as an instructor for Basic Pistol Shooting, Personal Protection in the Home, Carrying a Concealed Weapon, or Personal Protection Outside the Home.
3. The National Rifle Association Law Enforcement Division as an instructor for courses involving the teaching of handguns.
4. The United States Concealed Carry Association as an instructor for Home Defense and Concealed Carry Fundamentals or Defensive Shooting Fundamentals.
5. The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center's Firearms Instructor Training Program or other federal agency firearms instructor course consisting of at least forty hours of instruction.
6. Other instructor certification programs approved by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections.

Any safety or training course or class as described in this Subsection, except for basic handgun training in military service provided in Subparagraph (1)(g) of this Subsection, shall include instruction in child access prevention, a demonstration by the applicant of shooting proficiency, and safe handling of a handgun.

Any live range fire training required to demonstrate competency as authorized by the provisions of this Subsection may use live ammunition or fixed-case marking projectiles capable of being fired from a handgun.

La. Stat. tit. 40 § 1379.3

Application Process

1. Apply for a Concealed Handgun Permit by one of the following ways:
   • Complete and submit the new online Concealed Handgun Permit Application at http://chp-web.dps.louisiana.gov or submit a paper application.
2. Provide all necessary documentation pertaining to training, arrest dispositions, medical summary dispositions, and divorce decrees (if applicable). New fingerprints must be submitted for original/first-time applicants. Old fingerprints on file will not be accepted.
3. Paper applications, fingerprint cards, and/or other documentation must be submitted to:Louisiana State Police
   Concealed Handgun Permit Unit
   PO Box 66375
   Baton Rouge, LA 70896

Louisiana law:

The provisions of Subparagraph (A)(1)(a) of this Section shall not apply to any person who is eighteen years of age or older and is not prohibited from possessing a firearm under R.S. 14:95.1, 18 U.S.C. 922, or any other state or federal law.

Any person lawfully carrying a handgun pursuant to Subsection M of this Section shall be subject to the restrictions contained in R.S. 40:1379.3(I), (L), (M), (N), and (O).

Louisiana law:

No governing authority of a political subdivision shall enact or enforce any ordinance, order, regulation, policy, procedure, rule, or any other form of executive or legislative action more restrictive than state law concerning in any way the manufacture, sale, purchase, possession, carrying, storage, ownership, taxation, transfer, transportation, license, or registration of firearms, ammunition, components of firearms or ammunition, firearms accessories, knives, edged weapons, or any combination thereof. Any existing ordinance, order, regulation, policy, procedure, rule, or any other form of executive or legislative action in violation of this Subsection shall be null and void, and of no effect.

A political subdivision shall repeal, rescind, or amend to conform, any ordinance, order, regulation, policy, procedure, rule, or any other form of executive or legislative action in violation of this Section within six months after August 1, 2024.

A person or an organization whose membership is adversely affected by any ordinance, order, regulation, policy, procedure, rule, or any other form of executive or legislative action promulgated or caused to be enforced in violation of this Section may file suit against an offending political subdivision in any court of this state having jurisdiction for declaratory and injunctive relief. A court shall award a prevailing plaintiff in any such suit reasonable attorney fees and costs including expert witness fees and expenses.

Nothing in this Section shall prohibit a local governing authority in a high-risk area from developing a plan with federally licensed firearms manufacturers, dealers, or importers to secure the inventory of firearms and ammunition of those licensees in order to prevent looting of the licensee's premises during a declared state of emergency or disaster. Such plan shall be renewed on a periodic basis. The information contained in the plan shall be deemed security procedures as defined in R.S. 44:3.1 and shall be released only to the sheriffs of the parishes or police chiefs of municipalities in which the declared state of emergency or disaster exists.

For the purposes of this Section:

1. "Declared emergency or disaster" means an emergency or disaster declared by the governor or parish president pursuant to the provisions of the Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act.
2. "High-risk area" means the parishes of Assumption, Calcasieu, Cameron, Iberia, Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, and Vermilion.

This Section shall not apply to the levy and collection of sales and use taxes, license fees and taxes, and permit fees, nor shall it affect the authority of political subdivisions to prohibit the possession of a weapon or firearm in the commercial establishments and public buildings enumerated in R.S. 40:1379.3(N).

La. Stat. tit. 40 § 1796

Any person who knowingly makes available any dangerous instrument or weapon to any patient of any mental institution shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned for not more than two years, or both.

La. Stat. tit. 28 § 183

Illegally supplying a felon with a firearm is the intentional giving, selling, donating, providing, lending, delivering, or otherwise transferring a firearm to any person known by the offender to be a person convicted of a felony and prohibited from possessing a firearm as provided for in R.S. 14:95.1.

Whoever commits the crime of illegally supplying a felon with a firearm shall be imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than five years and may be fined not less than one thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars. At least one year of the sentence imposed shall be served without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.

La. Stat. tit. 14 § 95.1.1

Louisiana has no laws restricting the ammunition capacity of magazines.

Louisiana law:

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:

1. A law enforcement office, station, or building.
2. A detention facility, prison, or jail.
3. A courthouse or courtroom, provided that a judge may carry such a weapon in his own courtroom.
4. A polling place.
5. A municipal building or other public building or structure, only if the building or structure is utilized as the meeting place of the governing authority of a political subdivision.
6. The state capitol building.
7. 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.
8. Any church, synagogue, mosque, or other similar place of worship, eligible for qualification as a tax-exempt organization under 26 U.S.C. 501, unless authorized by the person who has authority over the administration of the church, synagogue, mosque, or other similar place of worship.
9. A parade or demonstration for which a permit is issued by a governmental entity.
10. 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.
11. Any school, school campus, or school bus as defined in R.S. 14:95.6.

La. Stat. tit. 40 § 1379.3

 

1. The provisions of Subsection N of this Section 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 or a person lawfully carrying a handgun pursuant to R.S. 14:95(M).
2. No individual to whom a concealed handgun permit is issued or who is lawfully carrying a handgun pursuant to R.S. 14:95(M) may carry a concealed handgun into the private residence of another without first receiving the consent of that person.

La. Stat. tit. 40 § 1379.3

Louisiana law:

• State v. Fluker 311 So. 2d 863: If the weapon is carried in a manner that reveals its identity, its carrier cannot be presumed to have intended to conceal it and, accordingly, is not in violation of the statute. (referring to the concealed carry statute which requires intentional concealment)

• State v Ferrand 664 So.2d 396: As the officer acknowledged, the public possession of an openly displayed handgun is not a crime in Louisiana and does not alone provide probable cause for an arrest.

• Attorney General Opinion No. 97-485 - The AG says, "There is no Louisiana law which in general prohibits carrying a handgun if that handgun is not concealed."

In Louisiana, no-weapons signs do not have the force of law.

Louisiana law:

No individual to whom a concealed handgun permit is issued or a person carrying a handgun pursuant to R.S. 14:95(M) may carry and conceal such handgun while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled dangerous substance. While a permittee is under the influence of alcohol or a controlled dangerous substance, an otherwise lawful permit is considered automatically suspended and is not valid. A permittee or any person carrying a concealed handgun shall be considered under the influence as evidenced by a blood alcohol reading of .05 percent or greater by weight of alcohol in the blood, or when a blood test or urine test shows any confirmed presence of a controlled dangerous substance as defined in R.S. 40:961 and 964.

La. Stat. tit. 40 § 1379.3 (I) (1)

Louisiana law:

Except as provided in Subsection D of this Section, a person who lawfully possesses a firearm may transport or store such firearm in a locked, privately-owned motor vehicle in any parking lot, parking garage, or other designated parking area.

La. Stat. tit. 32 § 292.1 (A)

Louisiana does not have any laws specifically related to how firearms must be stored.

Louisiana law:

A permittee armed with a handgun in accordance with this Section or a person carrying a handgun pursuant to R.S. 14:95(M) shall notify any police officer who approaches the individual or person carrying a handgun pursuant to R.S. 14:95(M) in an official manner or with an identified official purpose that he has a weapon on his person, submit to a pat down, and allow the officer to temporarily disarm him. Whenever a law enforcement officer is made aware that an individual is carrying a concealed handgun and the law enforcement officer has reasonable grounds to suspect that the individual is under the influence of either alcohol or a controlled dangerous substance, the law enforcement officer may take temporary possession of the handgun, reasonably detain the individual, and request submission of the individual to a department-certified chemical test for determination of the chemical status of the individual. Whenever a law enforcement officer reasonably suspects or is made aware that an individual is behaving in a criminally negligent manner as defined under the provisions of this Section, or is negligent in the carrying of a concealed handgun as provided for in R.S. 40:1382, the law enforcement officer may frisk for and seize the handgun until adjudication by a judge if the individual is issued a summons or arrested under the provisions of R.S. 40:1382. Failure by the permittee to comply with the provisions of this Paragraph shall result in a six-month automatic suspension of the permit. A person carrying a concealed handgun pursuant to R.S. 14:95(M) who fails to comply with the provisions of this Paragraph shall be subject to the penalties set forth in Subsection L of this Section.

La. Stat. tit. 40 § 1379.3 (I) (2)

Louisiana does not have Emergency Risk Orders ("Red Flag Laws").

Louisiana law:

The use of force or violence upon the person of another is justifiable under either of the following circumstances:

1. When committed for the purpose of preventing a forcible offense against the person or a forcible offense or trespass against property in a person's lawful possession, provided that the force or violence used must be reasonable and apparently necessary to prevent such offense.
2. 1. When committed by a person lawfully inside a dwelling, a place of business, or a motor vehicle as defined in R.S. 32:1(40) when the conflict began, against a person who is attempting to make an unlawful entry into the dwelling, place of business, or motor vehicle, or who has made an unlawful entry into the dwelling, place of business, or motor vehicle, and the person using the force or violence reasonably believes that the use of force or violence is necessary to prevent the entry or to compel the intruder to leave the dwelling, place of business, or motor vehicle.
   2. The provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply when the person using the force or violence is engaged, at the time of the use of force or violence in the acquisition of, the distribution of, or possession of, with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance in violation of the provisions of the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law.

La. Stat. tit. 14 § 19 (A) (1)

A homicide is justifiable:

1. When committed in self-defense by one who reasonably believes that he is in imminent danger of losing his life or receiving great bodily harm and that the killing is necessary to save himself from that danger.
2. When committed for the purpose of preventing a violent or forcible felony involving danger to life or of great bodily harm by one who reasonably believes that such an offense is about to be committed and that such action is necessary for its prevention. The circumstances must be sufficient to excite the fear of a reasonable person that there would be serious danger to his own life or person if he attempted to prevent the felony without the killing.
3. When committed against a person whom one reasonably believes to be likely to use any unlawful force against a person present in a dwelling or a place of business, or when committed against a person whom one reasonably believes is attempting to use any unlawful force against a person present in a motor vehicle as defined in R.S. 32:1(40), while committing or attempting to commit a burglary or robbery of such dwelling, business, or motor vehicle.
4. 1. When committed by a person lawfully inside a dwelling, a place of business, or a motor vehicle as defined in R.S. 32:1(40) when the conflict began, against a person who is attempting to make an unlawful entry into the dwelling, place of business, or motor vehicle, or who has made an unlawful entry into the dwelling, place of business, or motor vehicle, and the person committing the homicide reasonably believes that the use of deadly force is necessary to prevent the entry or to compel the intruder to leave the dwelling, place of business, or motor vehicle.
   2. The provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply when the person committing the homicide is engaged, at the time of the homicide, in the acquisition of, the distribution of, or possession of, with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance in violation of the provisions of the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law.

La. Stat. tit. 14 § 20 (A)

Louisiana law:

It is justifiable to use force or violence or to kill in the defense of another person when it is reasonably apparent that the person attacked could have justifiably used such means himself, and when it is reasonably believed that such intervention is necessary to protect the other person.

La. Stat. tit. 14 § 22

Louisiana law:

For the purposes of this Section, there shall be a presumption that a person lawfully inside a dwelling, place of business, or motor vehicle held a reasonable belief that the use of force or violence was necessary to prevent unlawful entry thereto, or to compel an unlawful intruder to leave the premises or motor vehicle, if both of the following occur:

1. The person against whom the force or violence was used was in the process of unlawfully and forcibly entering or had unlawfully and forcibly entered the dwelling, place of business, or motor vehicle.
2. The person who used force or violence knew or had reason to believe that an unlawful and forcible entry was occurring or had occurred.

La. Stat. tit. 14 § 19 (B)

Louisiana law does not specifically address the issue of defense of property, but it is covered under the "use of force or violence in defense" law.

Louisiana law:

A. A person who uses reasonable and apparently necessary or deadly force or violence for the purpose of preventing a forcible offense against the person or his property in accordance with R.S. 14:19 or 20 is immune from civil action for the use of reasonable and apparently necessary or deadly force or violence.

B. The court shall award reasonable attorney fees, court costs, compensation for loss of income, and all expenses to the defendant in any civil action if the court finds that the defendant is immune from suit in accordance with Subsection A of this Section.

La. Stat. tit. 9 § 2800.19

Louisiana law:

C. A person who is not engaged in unlawful activity and who is in a place where he or she has a right to be shall have no duty to retreat before using force or violence as provided for in this Section and may stand his or her ground and meet force with force.

D. No finder of fact shall be permitted to consider the possibility of retreat as a factor in determining whether or not the person who used force or violence in defense of his person or property had a reasonable belief that force or violence was reasonable and apparently necessary to prevent a forcible offense or to prevent the unlawful entry.

La. Stat. tit. 14 § 19 (C) & (D)

Louisiana law:

Aggressor cannot claim self-defense

A person who is the aggressor or who brings on a difficulty cannot claim the right of self-defense unless he withdraws from the conflict in good faith and in such a manner that his adversary knows or should know that he desires to withdraw and discontinue the conflict.

La. Stat. tit. 14 § 21

Any citizen or officer may kill any dangerous or vicious dog, and no citizen or officer shall be liable for damages or to prosecution by reason of killing any dangerous or vicious dog.

La. Stat. tit. 3 § 2773