Firearms Owners Against Crime
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
No one expected Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards to sign the constitutional carry bill that’s been sitting on his desk. But people who watch these things in the Sportsman’s Paradise know that Edwards wants to be a Senator from Louisiana some day. That’s why many of them speculated that he’d let the bill become law without his signature, as it would have done today if the Governor had done nothing.
No such luck. Edwards has vetoed the bill. He’s happy with the current system of government-issued carry permits and training mandates.
From theadvocate.com . . .
“I have a history as a legislator of voting against bills that would do away with the permit that is now necessary in order to have a concealed weapon,” Edwards said previously. “I think it strikes the right balance to make sure that individuals go through that background check, that they have training on safety and on marksmanship.”
As for those who have campaigned against the law, the used all the same tired arguments you’ve heard time and time again.
Opponents of the measure said that lifting the permit requirement would unleash a flurry of untrained gunowners onto the streets. Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul called it an “officer safety issue,” and said that without the required safety course, residents wouldn’t understand the responsibility they have to inform law enforcement of their firearm when approached.
Yadda, yadda, yadda.
The veto sets up an override session of the legislature. And the constitutional carry bill passed by overwhelming majorities in both houses, more than enough to override Edwards’ veto. But the legislative session has ended.
An override session is automatically teed up in Louisiana once the governor vetoes legislation, but it can be scrapped with majority written vote of lawmakers in either the House or Senate. Never before in Louisiana’s history have lawmakers returned to Baton Rouge after adjournment to overturn a governor’s veto.
So…Louisianans will have to wait to see if their elected representatives care enough about their constituents’ gun rights to come back to Baton Rouge…or if they’d rather not interrupt their summer vacations. Stay tuned.