Haughton State Rep. Burns Files Police Guns In Restaurants Bill

Haughton State Representative Henry Burns has pre-filed a bill for the upcoming legislative session that would allow law enforcement officers to carry a gun into a restaurant that sells alcohol.

The law would apply to both on-duty or off-duty officers.

Rep. Burns says the mission of a cop is to protect and serve all the time, no matter whether they are in uniform or not.

He further explained that currently, if an officer goes to dinner with their family at a restaurant like Chili's or Applebee's, it would be against the law for him or her to carry their gun inside.

Burns filed a similar piece of legislation last year.  It passed the House, but was not debated in the Senate.  He added that an officer should be able to have the protection of a weapon at all times.

[Louisiana Radio Network]