Date: Thu, 13 Apr 1995 03:26:03 -0400
From: alerts@gatekeeper.nra.org (NRA Alerts)
To: firearms-alert@shell.portal.com
Subject: INFO: LA - Letter to State Senate in re Right-to-Carry Legislation


April 12, 1995

Louisiana

In order to keep NRA members in the state as informed as possible
on the issues before the legislature I have posted the text of a
letter sent to many members of the state Senate.  Please feel free
to use the arguments included when making your calls or writing
your letters to State Representatives and Senators.  Write and Call
early and often!  Senators can be reached at 504-342-2040,
Representatives can be reached at 504-342-6945.  In order to find
out who your Senator or Representative is call your parish office
of voter registration.

***

Legislation will soon be on the Senate floor to establish a
process by which a law abiding citizen -- proven and trained -- 
can be issued a permit authorizing the individual to carry a
handgun on their person for self-protection.  

Similar legislation has already been enacted during the 1995
legislative sessions of Arkansas, Virginia, Idaho and Utah.  The
states of Tennessee, Wyoming, Arizona and Alaska enacted their
Right to Carry laws during the 1994 sessions. 

The opponents of Right to Carry legislation will put forth
outrageous claims of carnage in the streets and simple traffic
disputes being settled with gun fire.  Such arguments are simply
used as scare tactics in an attempt to defeat the legislation. 
The facts show that these claims to be unfounded.  I have
included documentation from the state of Florida that proves this
beyond any doubt.  Right to Carry laws allow a citizen to take
personal responsibility for the protection of self and family.  

To wit, the state of Mississippi has been issuing permits to
carry since 1990.  Florida -- with a population of over 12
million -- has been issuing permits to law-abiding citizens since
1988.  Neither state has experienced difficulties with permitees
using their firearms in an irresponsible manner.  Experience
shows that only honest citizens are willing to submit to the
permitting process, the background check, and the training
requirements to receive a permit.  Criminals and those inclined
to criminal activity will continue to carry concealed firearms
without a permit.

This bill simply opens an avenue for those citizens who desire a
legal means of self-protection.

Senate Bill 886 provides that the Department of Public Safety and
Corrections shall issue a permit to a Louisiana resident, who is
at least 21 years of age, has submitted to a background
investigation and has completed the training requirements.  The
applicant may not be a habitual drunkard nor user of controlled
substance within the preceding three years.  Permits can be
denied for a conviction for a single misdemeanor act of violence
within the preceding three years.   

However, of major concern to the Association is the needless
requirement of permitees to post a $25,000 bond.  It is common
that similar bonds have been required for the purpose of a
professional-occupational license, but not a private citizen
exercising a legal option of self-defense.  This legislation does
not seek to turn average citizens into law enforcement officers. 
Police officers have a duty to protect the society at large,
private citizens have no such responsibility.  Their main
objective is self-preservation.

Under this bill, the law would require a permit be issued to a
proven and trained law abiding citizen.  However, under the
mandatory bond provision, there is no requirement that a bond be
available.  Bonds could be denied to anyone the bonding agent
arbitrarily deems to be a "bad risk." 

Considering the application fee and the expenses associated with
training, a $25,000 bond raises the total cost of the initial 3
year permit from $140 to $290.  This would effectively place
self-protection out of financial reach of the poor and middle
class -- the most common victims of crime.  Personal safety
should not be a luxury afforded only to the affluent or metered
out by the bond industry.  

Mandating purchase of a bond would be a "solution in search of a
problem."  We have not found instances where permitees have used
a firearm and been held liable in a civil action.  In addition,
the "gun control" crowd which has opposed the NRA on Right to
Carry legislation has never produced such cases.  

If Florida -- considering its large population -- and Mississippi
-- considering its proximity and similar culture --  do not have
a use for mandatory bonds, why would Louisiana?