A Louisiana gun-rights organization is urging the state legislature to override Gov. John Bel Edwards’ veto of a bill that would have allowed residents to carry concealed firearms without paying to obtain a permit.
The Louisiana Shooting Association sees the governor’s action as a disappointment, especially since he ran for office as a pro-gun Democrat and has signed bills supported by gun owners in the past.
“We are encouraging the legislature to hold a veto session and to override the veto on this particular bill,” Dan Zelenka, president of the association, told the Louisiana Record.
Edwards vetoed SB 118, authored by Sen. Jay Morris (R-West Monroe), on June 25. In his veto message, the governor said that although he supports the Second Amendment, those who want to carry concealed weapons need to have proper marksmanship instruction and safety training.
“Our current system strikes the right balance of ensuring that people can bear arms while also keeping reasonable permitting and training processes in place,” Edwards said in a prepared statement.
In addition, many of Louisiana’s leaders in law enforcement argued against the bill, concluding that it would lead to an increased risk to police officers, he said.
But Zelenka says his association’s members strongly backed the permitless-carry measure and noted that similar measures have become law in 21 states. In Arizona, which has had such a law in place for a decade, there has been no spike in firearms crimes, he said.
“It doesn’t embolden criminals because criminals are already emboldened,” Zelenka said.
Supporters of the legislation have put forth both principled and practical arguments.
“You have the purist reasoning that you shouldn’t have to ask permission to exercise a constitutional right,” he said. But the permit fees can become a barrier for economically disadvantaged people to obtain a firearm for self-defense, according to Zelenka.
The bill cleared both houses of the Louisiana legislature with just sufficient votes to override a gubernatorial veto, he said.
“This bill passed with a bipartisan supermajority in both houses,” Zelenka said. “So it’s not like it barey limped across the finish line.”