BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) – The Louisiana Legislature is scheduled to meet Wednesday, June 1 regarding House Bill 37, which aims to change current state laws pertaining to the concealed carrying of firearms.
HB37 would allow people over the age of 21 to carry a concealed handgun without a permit.
But in view of recent events, some are nervous about the bill.
Certain law enforcement agencies have been outspoken in their disapproval of HB37, saying it could create a more dangerous environment for officers.
Others point to last week’s mass shooting at a Texas elementary school as an example of the danger in allowing certain individuals to carry concealed firearms.
On the other side of the issue are the bill’s advocates who say that the current cost of the permit poses an unnecessary challenge to low income individuals who’d like to carry a concealed firearm.
A similar bill that passed in 2021 was vetoed by Governor John Bel Edwards.
The Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee is now poised to make a decision on whether or not HB37 would remove the requirement for training in order to carry a concealed firearm.
During Wednesday’s session, the committee’s focus will also be on the revenue aspect of the permits.
Should the bill pass, it will be put to a vote before the full senate.
But time is a factor, as the legislative session is swiftly headed towards its scheduled close, which falls on Monday, June 6 at 6 p.m.
Watch the live stream on this webpage to view Wednesday’s legislative session.
