Under Louisiana state law, a felony is any offense that can be punished by death or imprisonment at hard labor.¹

¹ LA R.S. 14:2(A)(4)

In addition to the reasons that would make it illegal for a person to possess a firearm or carry a concealed weapon, there are additional reasons why a person would not qualify for a permit to carry a concealed handgun. In Louisiana, in order to qualify for a concealed handgun permit, the person must:

• be a resident of the state;
• be twenty-one years of age or older;
• not be suffering from a mental or physical illness (infirmity) due to disease, illness, or intellectual disability that prevents the safe handling of a handgun;
• not have been committed, either voluntarily or involuntarily, for the abuse of drugs within the past five years prior to the date the application is submitted;
• not have been found guilty of, or entered a plea of guilty or “nolo contendere” to, a drug-related misdemeanor within the past five years prior to the date the application is submitted;
• not presently be charged under indictment or a bill of information for a drug-related misdemeanor;
• not frequently (“chronically and habitually”) drink alcohol to such an extent that his/her normal abilities are damaged (impaired);
• not have been admitted, either voluntarily or involuntarily, for treatment as an alcoholic within the five-year period immediately preceding the date on which the application is submitted or at any time after the application is submitted;
• not been found guilty of, or entered a plea of guilty or “nolo contendere” to, a misdemeanor “crime of violence,” unless five years have passed since completion of the sentence or since any other conditions set by the court have been fulfilled;
• not have been convicted of, have entered a plea of guilty or “nolo contendere” to, or not be under a current indictment or a bill of information for a “crime of violence” or any felony;
• not be a fugitive from justice;
• not be an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana, depressants, stimulants, or narcotic drugs;
• not have been found by a court to be mentally deficient;
• not have been committed to a mental institution;
• not be an undocumented immigrant;
• not have been discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States with a discharge characterized as “Under Other than Honorable Conditions,” a “Bad Conduct Discharge,” or a “Dishonorable Discharge;”
• not have a history of engaging in violent behavior; Note: If within a ten-year period immediately before the date of the application, there is proof that either of the following are true, it will be assumed that the person has a “history of engaging in violent behavior”:
  • the applicant was arrested or charged on three or more occasions for any “crime of violence;” or
  • the applicant was arrested or charged on two or more occasions for any “crime of violence” that may be punished by death;
• not be ineligible to possess or receive a firearm under federal law, including when there is a protective order issued against the applicant that meets certain conditions; and
• not have had a permit denied within one year prior to the most recent application or revoked within four years prior to the most recent application.¹

^​1 LA R.S. 40:1379.3(C)

Louisiana law tells a judge what protections s/he is allowed to grant someone in a temporary order of protection. Restricting an abuser’s access to have or buy a gun is not included in the list of protections that can be granted in a temporary order.¹

¹ LA R.S. 46:2135

Dependiendo de el/la juez/a de su caso, puede haber algunas cosas que usted puede hacer para aumentar las posibilidades de que el/la juez/a ordene que se le quiten las armas a la persona agresora. Tenga en cuenta que estos consejos pueden no tener el resultado que se espera. Todos los/las jueces/zas son diferentes. Sin embargo, aquí le dejamos algunas sugerencias que pueden ayudar:

• Si la persona agresora tiene un arma, informe a el/la juez/a cuántas armas tiene y si alguna vez le ha mostrado las armas para intimidarlo/la y tener control sobre usted.
• Solicite a el/la juez/a que escriba específicamente en su orden de protección que la persona agresora no puede poseer, comprar o tener un arma mientras la medida esté vigente. El formulario en el que tendrá que presentar la petición para una orden de protección tendrá un espacio donde puede solicitar protecciones adicionales. En esa sección puede solicitar que le quiten las armas a la persona agresora.
• También puede ser útil que el/la juez/a explique qué pasará con las armas de la persona agresora, quién las tendrá y a dónde se llevarán una vez que abandone la corte. Si el/la juez/a acepta agregar que la persona agresora no puede tener sus armas mientras la orden de protección esté vigente, también podrá pedirle a el/la juez/a que:
  
  • le ordene a la persona agresora que entregue sus armas a la policía o le exija a la policía que vaya al domicilio de la persona agresora y las busque;
  • deje claro a ambos, a usted y a la persona agresora, durante cuánto tiempo se le quitarán las armas a la persona agresora; y
  • le ordene a la policía que le notifique cuando las armas sean devueltas a la persona agresora.
• Si se concede la restricción de armas, asegúrese de que esté escrito en su orden antes de irse de la corte.

Under Louisiana state law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of any of the following crimes to possess a firearm or carry a concealed weapon as long as the person was represented by a criminal defense lawyer during the criminal case or s/he gave up (waived) 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, or third, fourth, etc., offense of battery of a dating partner.¹

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.²

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.³

Lastly, there are additional crime-related reasons why a person would not qualify for a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Under Louisiana law, in order to qualify for a concealed handgun permit, the person must:

• not have been found guilty of, or entered a plea of guilty or “nolo contendere” to, a drug-related misdemeanor within the past five years prior to the date the application is submitted;
• not presently be charged under indictment or a bill of information for a drug-related misdemeanor;
• not been found guilty of, or entered a plea of guilty or “nolo contendere” to, a misdemeanor “crime of violence,” unless five years have passed since completion of the sentence or since any other conditions set by the court have been fulfilled;
• not have been convicted of, have entered a plea of guilty or “nolo contendere” to, or be under a current indictment or a bill of information for a “crime of violence” or any felony;
• not be a fugitive from justice;
• not have a history of engaging in violent behavior; Note: If within a ten-year period immediately before the date of the application, there is proof that either of the following are true, it will be assumed that the person has a “history of engaging in violent behavior”:
  • the applicant was arrested or charged on three or more occasions for any “crime of violence;” or
  • the applicant was arrested or charged on two or more occasions for any “crime of violence” that may be punished by death; and
• not be ineligible to possess or receive a firearm under federal law.⁴

¹ LA R.S. 14:95.10(A), (C)
² LA R.S. 14:95.1(A), (C)
³ LA R.S. 14:95.1(A)(2) 
⁴ LA R.S. 40:1379.3(C)

Si usted cree que la persona agresora está violando las leyes estatales de armas de fuego, puede llamar a la policía local o al departamento de el/la alguacil o a la Policía Estatal. Si cree que la persona agresora está violando las leyes federales de armas de fuego, puede llamar al Departamento de Alcohol, Tabaco y Armas de Fuego (ATF por sus siglas en inglés).

Puede encontrar la información de contacto para los departamentos de los/as alguaciles (“sheriff”) en su área en nuestra página de LA Comisarías de Sheriff y Notificación.

Puede encontrar las oficinas locales del ATF en Maine en el sitio web del ATF. Para reportar cualquier actividad ilegal con armas de fuego, una persona también puede llamar al 1-800-ATF-GUNS (1-800-283-4867). Muchas oficinas del ATF tienen en su equipo intercesores/as de víctimas que se llaman “coordinadores/as de víctima/testigo”. Es posible que quiera pedir hablar con uno/a de estos/as intercesores/as si está teniendo dificultad para ponerse en contacto con un/a oficial del ATF, o para recibir una llamada de vuelta.

Una organización local de violencia doméstica en su área también puede contestar sus preguntas y ayudarle a hablar con los/as oficiales de la policía que sea necesario. Encontrará la información de contacto de organizaciones en su área en nuestra página de LA Intercesoras y Albergues.

Note: Generalmente, la persona agresora no necesita tener conocimiento de la ley para ser arrestada por violarla. Si la persona agresora tiene o compra un arma de fuego en violación de la ley, puede ser arrestada, aunque no sepa que estaba violando la ley.¹

¹United States v. Lippman, 369 F. 3d 1039 (8th Cir. 2004); United States v. Henson, 55 F. Supp. 2d 528 (S.D. W.V. 1999)

Antes de comprar un arma de fuego de un/a vendedor/a licenciado/a, todos los/las compradores/as deben someterse a un chequeo de antecedentes penales realizado por el Sistema Nacional de Chequeo Instantáneo de Antecedentes Penales (“National Instant Criminal Background Check System,” o “NICS” por sus siglas en inglés). El Sistema Nacional de Chequeo Instantáneo de Antecedentes Penales es utilizado por los/as licenciatarios/as federales de armas de fuego (“FFLs,” por sus siglas en inglés) para determinar de forma instantánea si alguien es elegible para recibir explosivos o armas de fuego.¹ Si la persona agresora tiene una orden de protección calificada en su contra o, si ha sido sentenciado/a por un delito grave o un delito menos grave por violencia doméstica intrafamiliar en cualquier estado, esos registros deben estar en el NICS, lo cual debería imposibilitarle a la persona agresora comprar un arma de fuego. No todos los estados tienen un sistema automatizado de registro, lo que dificulta el proceso de verificación de antecedentes penales, por lo tanto, algunos criminales y agresores/as logran burlar el sistema. También es importante saber que no se necesita una verificación de antecedentes penales para ventas privadas y a través del Internet.

Si la persona agresora pudo comprar un arma y usted entiende que no debe tener una legalmente, usted puede avisarle a la policía y pedir que le quiten el arma y quizás ellos/as lo/a investigarán. Generalmente no es buena idea asumir que porque la persona agresora pudo comprar un arma, es legal que la tenga.

¹ National Criminal Justice Reference Service website

Louisiana residents are required to possess a valid concealed handgun permit issued by the state of Louisiana in order to carry a concealed handgun.¹ In addition to the reasons that would make it illegal for a person to possess a firearm or carry a concealed weapon related to criminal convictions or protective orders, the following are are additional reasons why a person would not be able to get a permit to carry a concealed handgun:

• s/he is not a resident of the state;
• s/he is under age twenty-one;
• s/he is suffering from a mental or physical illness (infirmity) due to disease, illness, or intellectual disability that prevents the safe handling of a handgun;
• s/he has been committed, either voluntarily or involuntarily, for the abuse of drugs (a “controlled dangerous substance”) within the past five years prior to the date the application is submitted;
• s/he is presently charged under indictment or a “bill of information” for a drug-related misdemeanor;
• s/he frequently (“chronically and habitually”) drinks alcohol to such an extent that his/her normal abilities are damaged (impaired);
• s/he has been admitted, either voluntarily or involuntarily, for treatment as an alcoholic, within the five-year period immediately preceding the date on which the application is submitted, or at any time after the application is submitted;
• s/he is charged under indictment or a bill of information for a “crime of violence” or any felony;
• s/he is a fugitive from justice;
• s/he is an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana, depressants, stimulants, or narcotic drugs;
• s/he has been found by a court to be mentally deficient;
• s/he has been committed to a mental institution;
• s/he is an undocumented immigrant;
• s/he was discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States with a discharge characterized as “Under Other than Honorable Conditions,” a “Bad Conduct Discharge,” or a “Dishonorable Discharge;”
• s/he has a history of engaging in violent behavior; Note: If within a ten-year period immediately before the date of the application, there is proof that either of the following are true, it will be assumed that the person has a “history of engaging in violent behavior”:
  • the applicant was arrested or charged on three or more occasions for any “crime of violence;” or
  • the applicant was arrested or charged on two or more occasions for any “crime of violence” that may be punished by death;
• s/he is ineligible to possess or receive a firearm under federal law; and
• s/he had a permit denied within one year prior to the most recent application or had a permit revoked within four years prior to the most recent application.²

If none of these situations apply, you can still make a plan for your safety. See our Safety Planning page for more information. You can also contact your local domestic violence organization for additional help. You may want to talk to them about whether leaving the area - either long term or for a little while - might help improve your safety. See our LA Advocates and Shelters page to find a local domestic violence organization near you.

For additional information on gun laws in Louisiana, you can go to the Giffords Law Center website.

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

¹ LA R.S. 40:1379.3(B)(2)
² LA R.S. 40:1379.3(C)