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NEW ORLEANS — While stun guns are now legal for New Orleans residents to carry thanks to a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, other non-lethal weapons are still banned in the city.
“Historically, stun guns have been banned in the City of New Orleans,” Erin Burns, press secretary for Mayor Mitch Landrieu and the City of New Orleans, told the Louisiana Record. “The U.S. Supreme Court has concluded that stun guns are firearms, therefore, they are subject to the same state-mandated regulations as any other firearm."
She said that because of the decision, the city had no choice but to lift the stun gun ban.
“Because state and federal law preempt the City of New Orleans’ ordinance, we acknowledged the supreme court’s ruling and repealed our ordinance, which banned stun guns to avoid any confusion,” she said.
Burns said the city’s ban on other non-lethal weapons such as possessing brass knuckles or switchblade knives, still stands.
“Stun guns were the only weapon addressed in the supreme court case,” she said. “Should the New Orleans City Council decide to address any other non-lethal weapons, the city will comply.”
While carrying a stun gun is now legal in the city, Burns said the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) will continue to treat their use as it does any other weapons, including handguns.
Burns said the police recommend that anyone carrying a weapon, whether it’s a stun gun or firearm, receive professional training to operate it properly and safely.
“As with all weapons, NOPD encourages stun gun owners to get full training on their weapon, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and to keep them secured and out of the reach of children,” she said.