Abstract: Provides an exception to the crime of illegal carrying of weapons for persons who may
lawfully possess a firearm and who carry a concealed firearm during a mandatory evacuation
in a declared state of emergency or disaster.
Present law (R.S. 14:95) prohibits the carrying of a concealed firearm, provides for criminal
penalties, and provides for certain exceptions to the offense.
Proposed law creates an exception to the present law crime for any person who is not prohibited
from possessing a firearm pursuant to present state or federal law and who is carrying a concealed
firearm on or about his person while in the act of evacuating during a mandatory evacuation order
issued during a state of emergency or disaster declared pursuant to the present law La. Homeland
Security and Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act.
For purposes of proposed law, "in the act of evacuating" is defined as the immediate and urgent
movement of a person away from the evacuation area within 48 hours after a mandatory evacuation
is ordered. The 48-hour period may be extended by an order issued by the governor.
(Adds R.S. 14:95(L))