HLS 21RS-1002 ORIGINAL
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 596
BY REPRESENTATIVE FONTENOT
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
WEAPONS/HANDGUNS: Provides relative to the concealed carrying of firearms
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 40:1379.3(B)(2) and to enact R.S. 14:95(M) and R.S.
3 40:1379.3.3, relative to the illegal carrying of weapons; to exempt certain persons
4 from the crime of illegal carrying of weapons; to provide relative to concealed
5 handgun permits; to provide relative to the authority of a person to carry a concealed
6 handgun without a permit; to require completion of a sixty-minute online concealed
7 handgun education course in order to carry a concealed handgun without a permit;
8 and to provide for related matters.
9Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
10 Section 1. R.S. 14:95(M) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
11 §95. Illegal carrying of weapons
12 * * *
13 M. The provisions of Paragraph (A)(1) of this Section shall not apply to a
14 person if all of the following conditions are met:
15 (1) The person is twenty-one years of age or older.
16 (2) The person is not prohibited from possessing a firearm under R.S.
17 14:95.1 or any other state or federal law.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 21RS-1002 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 596
1 Section 2. R.S. 40:1379.3(B)(2) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S.
240:1379.3.3 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
3 §1379.3. Statewide permits for concealed handguns; application procedures;
4 definitions
5 * * *
6 B.
7 * * *
8 (2) A Louisiana resident shall be required to possess a valid concealed
9 handgun permit issued by the state of Louisiana pursuant to the provisions of this
10 Section complete a sixty-minute online concealed handgun education course at no
11 cost to the Louisiana resident created by state police as provided in R.S. 40:1379.3.3
12 in order to carry a concealed handgun in the state of Louisiana.
13 * * *
14 §1379.3.3. Louisiana permitless carry
15 A. No person shall carry a concealed handgun unless that person has been
16 issued a certificate of satisfactory completion of a sixty-minute online concealed
17 handgun education course at no cost to Louisiana residents created by state police.
18 B. The concealed handgun education course shall cover the following topics:
19 (1) Concealed handgun basics and nomenclature.
20 (2) Firearm free zones.
21 (3) Use of deadly force.
22 (4) Interactions with law enforcement officers.
23 C. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of state police
24 shall promulgate rules and regulations in accordance with the Administrative
25 Procedure Act to implement the provisions of this Section.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 21RS-1002 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 596
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 596 Original 2021 Regular Session Fontenot
Abstract: Exempts certain persons from the crime of illegal carrying of weapons and
replaces the requirement that a person possess a permit issued by the state of La. in
order to carry a concealed handgun in the state of La. with the requirement that a
person complete a 60 minute online concealed handgun education course.
Present law (R.S. 14:95) prohibits the carrying of a concealed firearm, provides for criminal
penalties, and provides for certain exceptions to the offense.
Proposed law creates an exception to this prohibition for a person who is 21 years of age or
older and who is not prohibited from possessing a firearm under any federal or state law.
Present law (R.S. 40:1379.3) provides that La. residents who meet certain eligibility
requirements may apply for and be issued a concealed handgun permit authorizing the
person to carry a concealed handgun on his person in the state of La.
Present law requires the person to possess a valid concealed handgun permit issued by the
state of La. in order to carry a concealed handgun in the state of La.
Proposed law changes present law from requiring that a person possess a permit issued by
the state of La. in order to carry a concealed handgun in the state of La. to requiring that a
person complete a 60 minute online concealed handgun education course at no cost to La.
residents created by state police.
Proposed law requires the 60 minute online concealed handgun course to include the
following topics:
(1)Concealed handgun basics and nomenclature.
(2) Firearm free zones.
(3)Use of deadly force.
(4) Interactions with law enforcement officers.
(Amends R.S. 40:1379.3(B)(2); Adds R.S. 14:95(M) and R.S. 40:1379.3.3)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.