HLS 15RS-2690 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE STUDY REQUEST NO. 2
BY REPRESENTATIVE NORTON
CRIME: Requests a study of the feasibility, practicality, and effectiveness of limiting access
to fully automatic weapons by children
1 A STUDY REQUEST
2To urge and request the House Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice to
3 study the feasibility, practicality, and effectiveness of limiting access of children
4 under twelve years of age to fully automatic weapons.
5 WHEREAS, the Louisiana Legislature has enacted many laws which prohibit
6engaging in certain activities to protect children; and
7 WHEREAS, Louisiana laws establish age prohibitions for voting, obtaining a license
8to operate a motor vehicle, entering into contracts, marriage, purchasing alcoholic beverages,
9obtaining a tattoo, consuming alcoholic beverages, purchasing cigarettes, and purchasing
10firearms; and
11 WHEREAS, additionally the state of Louisiana has enacted the Louisiana Children's
12Code which establishes special juvenile laws and procedures in recognition of the
13differences which exist between adults and juveniles; and
14 WHEREAS, these laws have been enacted with the knowledge that our children are
15both the future of this state and our most precious resource, that children and adults are
16different, and that the law of this state should take into consideration these differences, and
17that in all matters, the best interest of the child is of paramount concern in all areas of the
18law; and
19 WHEREAS, there are certain machine guns or fully automatic weapons which are
20difficult to operate for many reasons and require a certain amount of strength for adults to
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HSR NO. 2
1control properly and operate safely and which cannot be safely and properly operated by
2children; and
3 WHEREAS, Article I, Section 11 of the Constitution of Louisiana guarantees the
4fundamental right of Louisiana citizens to keep and bear arms which shall not be infringed;
5and
6 WHEREAS, despite this fact, Louisiana law prohibits the sale of weapons to minors
7and prohibits a person under the age of twenty-one from obtaining a concealed handgun
8permit; and
9 WHEREAS, the state of Louisiana has a compelling interest in protecting the
10children of this state who are our most vulnerable and precious residents.
11 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
12Legislature of Louisiana does hereby request the House Committee on the Administration
13of Criminal Justice to study the feasibility, practicality, and effectiveness of limiting access
14of children under twelve years of age to fully automatic weapons.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HSR 2 Original 2015 Regular Session Norton
Requests the House Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice to study the
feasibility, practicality, and effectiveness of limiting access of children under 12 years of age
to fully automatic weapons.
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