State Gun Laws

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)