Louisiana Gun Laws

Louisiana's illegal-carrying-of-weapons statute does not apply to any person 18 years of age or older who is not prohibited from possessing a firearm under La. R.S. § 14:95.1, 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), or any other state or federal law. The prior 21+ baseline (with a narrow 18+ military carve-out) was struck by SB 1 of the 2024 Second Extraordinary Session, effective July 4, 2024.

"The provisions of Paragraph (A)(1) of this Section shall not apply to any person who is: (1) The person is eighteen years of age or older. (2) The person is not prohibited from possessing a firearm under R.S. 14:95.1, 18 U.S.C. 922(g), or any other state or federal law."

La. R.S. § 14:95(M) (as amended by Act 1, 2024 2nd Ex. Sess.) statute

SB 1, enacted as Act 1 of the 2024 Second Extraordinary Session, amended La. R.S. § 14:95(M) and § 40:1379.3(B)(2)(a), (M), and (O), and enacted § 14:95(N). It authorized permitless concealed carry by any person 18+ not otherwise prohibited. Signed by Governor Landry on March 5, 2024; effective July 4, 2024.

"AN ACT to amend and reenact R.S. 14:95(M) and R.S. 40:1379.3(B)(2)(a), (M), and (O) and to enact R.S. 14:95(N), relative to illegal carrying of weapons; to provide that law-abiding persons eighteen years of age and not otherwise prohibited may carry a concealed weapon lawfully without a permit. Section 3. This Act shall become effective on July 4, 2024."

Act 1 of the 2024 Second Extraordinary Session (SB 1) statute

La. R.S. § 14:95.1 is Louisiana's state-law firearm prohibitor for persons convicted of certain felonies. The permitless-carry exception in § 14:95(M) and the CHP eligibility rules in § 40:1379.3 both require that the carrier not be prohibited from possessing a firearm under this section.

"It is unlawful for any person who has been convicted of, or has been found not guilty by reason of insanity for, a crime of violence as defined in R.S. 14:2(B) which is a felony."

La. R.S. § 14:95.1 (Possession of firearm or carrying concealed weapon by a person convicted of certain felonies) statute

18 U.S.C. § 922(g) is the federal list of prohibited possessors — felons, fugitives, unlawful drug users, persons adjudicated mentally defective, illegal aliens, dishonorably discharged servicemembers, persons subject to qualifying restraining orders, and persons convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence. Louisiana's permitless-carry statute incorporates this federal prohibitor list by reference.

"It shall be unlawful for any person who has been convicted in any court of, a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year ... to ship or transport in interstate or foreign commerce, or possess in or affecting commerce, any firearm or ammunition."

18 U.S.C. § 922(g) (federal firearm prohibitors) atf

The Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP) is issued by the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections (administered by Louisiana State Police). Applicants must be 21 or older, complete an LSP-approved firearms safety course, and pass a background check. Standard permits are valid for 5 years at $125 ($25/year); a lifetime option is also available. As of August 1, 2025, the residency requirement was repealed by Act 273 (2025 HB 407) — non-residents may now apply.

"The permit shall be for a term of five years, at a cost of twenty-five dollars per year."

La. R.S. § 40:1379.3 (Statewide Concealed Handgun Permit) statute

The Louisiana State Police Concealed Handgun Permit Unit administers the CHP. LSP-approved training under R.S. 40:1379.3 is a roughly 9-hour course covering handgun nomenclature, ammunition knowledge, shooting fundamentals, live-fire qualification, child access prevention, and deadly-force/conflict-resolution law. Original permits (5-year or lifetime) require new fingerprints; lifetime holders must complete refresher training every 5 years.

"Concealed Handgun Information"

Louisiana State Police — Concealed Handgun Permit Unit ag

Open carry of a handgun has long been permitless in Louisiana. The illegal-carrying offense in § 14:95(A)(1) targets the 'intentional concealment' of a firearm; openly carried handguns fall outside the offense entirely, subject to other statutes (e.g., school zones, posted property, intoxication).

"Illegal carrying of weapons is: (1) The intentional concealment of any firearm, or other instrumentality customarily used or intended for probable use as a dangerous weapon, on one's person."

La. R.S. § 14:95(A)(1) (concealment-only offense) statute

Because the illegal-carrying offense does not apply to any non-prohibited person 18 or older, a loaded handgun may be carried in a motor vehicle — including the glove box, center console, or trunk — without a permit. The motor-vehicle setting is not a separate prohibited place.

"The provisions of Paragraph (A)(1) of this Section shall not apply to any person who is eighteen years of age or older [and] not prohibited from possessing a firearm."

La. R.S. § 14:95(M) (permitless carry exception) statute

Any person who lawfully possesses a firearm may transport or store the firearm in a locked, privately-owned motor vehicle in any parking lot, parking garage, or other designated parking area. No property owner, tenant, employer, or business may prohibit this storage. The protection applies to lawful possessors generally — not only to permit holders.

"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. R.S. § 32:292.1 (Transportation and storage of firearms in privately owned motor vehicles) statute

Louisiana's employer parking-lot statute bars employers and property owners from prohibiting employees and others from transporting or storing firearms in locked, privately-owned vehicles in parking lots, garages, or designated parking areas. The protection extends to any lawful firearm possessor — including permitless carriers, distinguishing Louisiana from states like Tennessee where the protection is permit-holder-only. Employers may adopt limited restrictions on restricted-access facilities (gated/fenced) only if they provide temporary firearm storage or an alternative parking area.

"No property owner, tenant, public or private employer, or business entity shall prohibit any person from transporting or storing a firearm in accordance with this Section."

La. R.S. § 32:292.1 statute

Louisiana statute recognizes facially valid handgun, firearms, or weapons permits issued by other states whose permits are honored by Louisiana on a reciprocal basis. The Louisiana State Police publishes the official reciprocity matrix; as of the most recent LSP posting, 37 states honor the Louisiana CHP and Louisiana honors permits from those same states. States that do not recognize the Louisiana CHP include California, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, and Rhode Island.

"Concealed Carry Reciprocity"

La. R.S. § 40:1379.3(T) and LSP Reciprocity Matrix ag

Louisiana codifies a castle-doctrine presumption for non-lethal defensive force: a person lawfully inside a dwelling, place of business, or motor vehicle is presumed to have held a reasonable belief that force was necessary against an intruder unlawfully and forcibly entering or who has unlawfully and forcibly entered, when the defender knew or had reason to believe such entry was occurring.

"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."

La. R.S. § 14:19(B)–(D) statute

For lethal force, La. R.S. § 14:20 makes homicide justifiable when committed by a person lawfully inside a dwelling, place of business, or motor vehicle against an intruder making or having made an unlawful and forcible entry, when the defender reasonably believes deadly force is necessary to prevent entry or compel the intruder to leave. The same presumption-of-reasonable-belief language as § 14:19 applies.

"A homicide is justifiable: ... When committed by a person lawfully inside a dwelling, a place of business, or a motor vehicle ... 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."

La. R.S. § 14:20 (Justifiable homicide) statute

Louisiana is a stand-your-ground state. A person who is not engaged in unlawful activity and is in a place where the person has a right to be has no duty to retreat before using deadly force and may meet force with force. The finder of fact is barred from considering retreat as a factor in evaluating the reasonableness of force.

"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 deadly force as provided for in this Section, and may stand his or her ground and meet force with force."

La. R.S. § 14:20(D) (no duty to retreat) statute

The parallel stand-your-ground provision in § 14:19(D) applies to non-lethal force: a person not engaged in unlawful activity in a place where the person has a right to be has no duty to retreat before using force, and no fact-finder may consider retreat as a factor.

"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."

La. R.S. § 14:19(D) (no duty to retreat — non-lethal) statute

Louisiana imposes an affirmative duty to inform: a person carrying a concealed handgun — whether under the CHP or permitless under § 14:95(M) — must notify any law enforcement officer who approaches in an official manner that they are armed, submit to a pat-down, and allow the officer to temporarily disarm them. The duty applies even to permitless carriers because § 14:95(N) incorporates by reference the restrictions in § 40:1379.3(I).

"Notify any police officer who approaches the permittee 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."

La. R.S. § 40:1379.3(I)(2) (duty to inform) statute

Concealed carry — whether under the CHP or permitless under § 14:95(M) — is prohibited in: a law enforcement office or station; a detention facility, prison, or jail; a courthouse or courtroom (judges excepted in their own courtrooms); a polling place; municipal/parish/state government buildings used for governing-body meetings; the state capitol; airport areas where federal law prohibits firearms; any church, synagogue, mosque, or similar place of worship (subject to authorization); active parade/demonstration participation; the permitted area of an establishment with a Class A-General alcohol retail permit; and any school, school campus, or school bus. The § 14:95(N) cross-reference imports these restrictions into permitless carry.

"M. No concealed handgun may be carried into and no concealed handgun permit shall be valid or entitle any permittee to carry a concealed handgun in any facility, building, location, zone, or area in which firearms are banned by state or federal law."

La. R.S. § 40:1379.3(N) (sensitive places) statute

A 'firearm-free zone' encompasses any school campus and the area within 1,000 feet of any such campus, as well as the interior of a school bus. The zone covers public and private elementary, secondary, high, vocational-technical, college, and university schools. Schools must post signage indicating the zone's extent. Violation is prosecuted under R.S. 14:95.2.

"A 'firearm-free zone' means any area inclusive of any school campus and within one thousand feet of any such school campus, and within a school bus, wherein the possession of firearms is prohibited."

La. R.S. § 14:95.6 (Firearm-free zone — schools, 1,000-foot perimeter) statute

Carrying a firearm or dangerous weapon by a student or non-student on school property, at a school-sponsored function, or in a firearm-free zone is punishable by imprisonment at hard labor for up to five years. Limited statutory exceptions apply for authorized personnel and certain narrowly defined activities.

"Whoever commits the crime of carrying a firearm, or a dangerous weapon ... on school property, at a school-sponsored function, or in a firearm-free zone shall be imprisoned at hard labor for not more than five years."

La. R.S. § 14:95.2 (Carrying a firearm on school property) statute

Permit holders and permitless carriers may not carry a concealed handgun while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled dangerous substance. The statute defines 'under the influence of alcohol' as a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05% or greater — a lower threshold than the 0.08% DUI standard.

"Under the influence of alcohol or a controlled dangerous substance ... A blood alcohol reading of .05 percent or greater by weight of alcohol in the blood."

La. R.S. § 40:1379.3(I) (carry while intoxicated) statute

Effective August 1, 2025, Act 271 (HB 393) amended La. R.S. § 40:1379.3(N)(9) to clarify that the parade/demonstration carry ban applies only to active participants. Bystanders and spectators who attend a permitted parade or demonstration are not restricted by the provision.

"(b) The provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply to a bystander or spectator who attends a parade or demonstration for which a permit is issued by a governmental entity."

Act 271, 2025 Regular Session (HB 393) — Parade/demonstration spectator carve-out statute

Louisiana relies on federal NICS for background checks at federally licensed dealers and does not impose a separate state background-check requirement for private, intrastate firearm transfers between non-licensed individuals.

"There is no Federal permit requirement for the purchase of a firearm. ... A licensed dealer must initiate a NICS background check on the prospective purchaser."

18 U.S.C. § 922(t) (federal NICS — applied via Louisiana FFLs) atf

Federal law requires that handguns be purchased from a federally licensed dealer only by buyers 21 or older, while long guns may be purchased from an FFL at 18. Louisiana imposes no additional state purchase-age requirements beyond federal law; private intrastate transfers between unlicensed adults are not governed by the federal FFL minimums.

"A licensee may not sell a handgun to anyone under the age of 21. A licensee may not sell a long gun to anyone under the age of 18."

18 U.S.C. § 922(b)(1) (federal FFL minimum) atf

Louisiana does not require firearm registration for ordinary long guns or handguns. The preemption statute prohibits political subdivisions from imposing local registration requirements. NFA items must remain registered with ATF under federal law.

"the manufacture, sale, purchase, possession, carrying, storage, ownership, taxation, transfer, transportation, license, or registration of firearms"

La. R.S. § 40:1796 (preemption — no state registry of long guns or handguns) statute

Louisiana has not enacted an extreme risk protection order (red flag) law. No statute authorizes a court to order temporary firearm relinquishment based on a risk-of-harm petition, and the Republican-majority legislature has rejected proposed ERPO bills.

"Louisiana Laws"

La. R.S. Title 14 — no ERPO statute enacted statute

Louisiana has no state assault-weapon ban and the 2024-amended preemption statute prohibits political subdivisions from imposing any regulation 'more restrictive than state law' on firearms, ammunition, or components. Prevailing plaintiffs in preemption-enforcement suits are entitled to reasonable attorney fees and costs.

"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 ... firearms, ammunition, components of firearms or ammunition, firearms accessories, knives, edged weapons, or any combination thereof."

La. R.S. § 40:1796 (preemption) statute

Louisiana imposes no magazine-capacity limit, and the preemption statute bars political subdivisions from imposing one.

"No governing authority of a political subdivision shall enact or enforce any ordinance ... more restrictive than state law."

La. R.S. § 40:1796 (preemption); no state capacity statute statute

Suppressors, short-barreled rifles (SBRs), short-barreled shotguns (SBSs), and machine guns are regulated under the federal National Firearms Act and require ATF registration. Louisiana imposes no additional state-level prohibition on NFA items that are lawfully registered with ATF; suppressors and SBRs/SBSs held in compliance with the NFA are lawful in Louisiana.

"The National Firearms Act (NFA) imposes a statutory excise tax on the manufacture and transfer of certain firearms and mandates the registration of those firearms."

26 U.S.C. ch. 53 (National Firearms Act) atf

Louisiana broadly preempts local regulation of firearms, ammunition, components, accessories, knives, and edged weapons. The 2024 amendment (Act 59, effective August 1, 2024) added a private right of action for declaratory and injunctive relief and requires courts to award reasonable attorney fees and expert costs to prevailing plaintiffs. Political subdivisions were required to repeal noncompliant ordinances within six months. Exceptions exist for sales/use taxes, for licensee-protection plans in declared-disaster high-risk areas, and for political-subdivision prohibitions on firearms in the sensitive places listed in R.S. 40:1379.3(N).

"Any existing ordinance, order, regulation, policy, procedure, rule, or any other form of executive or legislative action in violation of this Section shall be null and void and of no effect."

La. R.S. § 40:1796 (as amended by Act 59, 2024) statute

Effective July 4, 2024, Louisiana enacted permitless concealed carry. Act 1 amended R.S. § 14:95(M) to allow any person 18 or older not federally or state prohibited to carry a concealed handgun without a permit, and enacted § 14:95(N) to import the sensitive-place and conduct restrictions from § 40:1379.3 into permitless carry. Signed by Governor Jeff Landry on March 5, 2024.

"Section 3. This Act shall become effective on July 4, 2024."

Act 1, 2024 Second Extraordinary Session (SB 1) statute

Effective August 1, 2024, Louisiana enacted Act 59 (SB 194), strengthening firearm preemption by expanding the scope of preempted local action, providing a private right of action with mandatory fee-shifting to prevailing plaintiffs, and requiring political subdivisions to repeal noncompliant ordinances within six months.

"A person or an organization whose membership is adversely affected by any ordinance ... may file suit ... and a court shall award a prevailing plaintiff ... reasonable attorney fees and costs."

Act 59, 2024 Regular Session (SB 194) — Enhanced firearm preemption statute

Effective August 1, 2025, Louisiana repealed the residency requirement for the Concealed Handgun Permit. Any qualifying person — not just Louisiana residents — may now apply for and obtain the Louisiana CHP. The Act also repealed the requirement that a lifetime CHP be suspended if the holder became a resident of another state.

"Act 273 (2025 HB 407) — to allow non-residents to apply for the Louisiana Concealed Handgun Permit"

Act 273, 2025 Regular Session (HB 407) — CHP residency requirement repealed statute

Act 273 of 2025 repealed the requirement that an applicant for the Louisiana Concealed Handgun Permit be a Louisiana resident, opening the permit to qualifying non-residents. The Act also repealed the requirement that a lifetime CHP be suspended if the holder later became a resident of another state.

Act 273, 2025 Regular Session (HB 407)

Act 59 of 2024 expanded the scope of La. R.S. § 40:1796, prohibiting any political-subdivision regulation 'more restrictive than state law,' creating a private right of action with mandatory attorney-fee and expert-cost shifting to prevailing plaintiffs, and requiring political subdivisions to repeal noncompliant ordinances within six months.

Act 59, 2024 Regular Session (SB 194)

Act 1 of the 2024 Second Extraordinary Session amended La. R.S. § 14:95(M) and § 40:1379.3 and enacted § 14:95(N), authorizing any person 18 or older who is not prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law to carry a handgun concealed without a permit. Louisiana became the 28th permitless-carry state. Signed by Governor Jeff Landry on March 5, 2024.

Act 1, 2024 Second Extraordinary Session (SB 1)