State Gun Laws

Under Louisiana state law, it is illegal for anyone to possess a firearm or carry a concealed weapon under the following circumstances:

1. If someone has a long-term protective order against him/her, it is illegal to possess/carry while the order is in effect as long as:
   • the order includes a finding that the defendant represents a believable (credible) threat to the physical safety of a family member, household member, or dating partner; and
   • the order includes a notice to the defendant about this law and about the federal firearm law;¹ and
2. If someone has been convicted of any of the following crimes, as long as s/he was represented by a lawyer during the criminal case or s/he gave up the right to have a lawyer:

• domestic abuse battery;
• battery of a dating partner when the offense involves strangulation;
• battery of a dating partner when the offense involves burning; or
• a second, third, fourth, etc., offense of battery of a dating partner.²

In addition, anyone who was convicted of or found “not guilty by reason of insanity” of any of the following crimes cannot possess a firearm or carry a concealed weapon for a period of ten years from the date of completing the sentence, probation, parole, suspension of sentence, or discharge from a mental institution by a court:

1. a “crime of violence” that is a felony;
2. various burglary crimes – for a complete list, go to our Selected Louisiana Statutes page;
3. manufacture or possession of a bomb or other incendiary device;
4. possession of a firearm while possessing or selling a controlled dangerous substance;
5. felony illegal use of weapons;
6. any violation of the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law that is a felony;
7. any crime defined as a sex offense; or
8. an attempt to commit any of these above-listed offenses.³

If the abuser was age 15 or 16 at the time s/he was “adjudicated delinquent” of committing any of the above eight crimes, s/he may be violating this law. However, there are some exceptions. Read section 95.1(A)(2) of the law to learn more.⁴

Also, federal laws, which apply to all states, may restrict an abuser’s right to have a gun. Go to our Federal Gun Laws page to get more information.

¹ LA R.S. 46:2136.3
² LA R.S. 14:95.10(A), (C)
³ LA R.S. 14:95.1(A), (C)
⁴ LA R.S. 14:95.1(A)(2)