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)]
HB 147 Original 2020 Regular Session Hughes
Abstract: Authorizes certain parishes to adopt or enforce certain ordinances or regulations
regarding the sale, purchase, possession, ownership, transfer, transportation, license, or
registration of firearms, ammunition, or components thereof.
Present law prohibits the governing authority of a political subdivision from enacting any ordinance
or regulation more restrictive than state law concerning in any way the sale, purchase, possession,
ownership, transfer, transportation, license, or registration of firearms, ammunition, or components
of firearms or ammunition. Present law further provides, however, that present law does not affect
the authority of political subdivisions to prohibit the possession of a weapon or firearm in certain
commercial establishments and public buildings.
Present law further provides that local governing authorities in a high-risk area may develop 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. For these purposes, present law defines "high-risk
area" as 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.
Proposed law retains present law but provides that nothing in present law prohibits a parish with a
population of not less than 300,000 nor more than 400,000 according to the latest federal decennial
census, or any local governing authority or official thereof, from enacting or enforcing any ordinance
or regulation concerning in any way the sale, purchase, possession, ownership, transfer,
transportation, license, or registration of firearms, ammunition, or components of firearms or
ammunition if the ordinance or regulation does any of the following:
(1)Requires the reporting of lost or stolen firearms to law enforcement for the purpose of
preventing the trafficking of firearms.
(2)Regulates or prohibits the open and visible carrying of firearms at a public event for which
a permit is issued by a government entity.
(3)Prohibits firearms from being carried in any commercial establishment where alcohol is
served for consumption or from being carried in any defined geographic area where the
consumption of alcohol is permitted by law. (4)Prohibits firearms from being carried in recreation centers or other public buildings.
(5)Prohibits unsafe access to firearms by a child under the age of eighteen.
(6)Prohibits the manufacture or assembly of firearms. However, proposed law provides that this
prohibition shall not apply to a federally licensed firearms manufacturer; a local, state, or
federal law enforcement officer who manufactures or assembles a firearm pursuant to their
official duties; or a person who reassembles a previously existing firearm after disassembling
the firearm solely for the purpose of modifying, repairing, or otherwise servicing the firearm.
(Adds R.S. 40:1796(D))