Rep. Danny McCormick: It’s Time for Constitutional Carry in Louisiana [VIDEO]
State Rep. Danny McCormick of Oil City talks with 101.7 / 710 KEEL's Robert J Wright and Erin McCarty about his bill that would end the need to be licensed to carry a concealed firearm in Louisiana.
McCormick, who refers to licensed concealed carry as the "coat tax," tells KEEL listeners that gun owners are allowed to open-carry without a license or fee. "In Louisiana right now it's legal to open carry a pistol on your belt," he says, "But if you put a coat over it, it's now concealed and you're a criminal if you don't have a permit."
More details on McCormick's proposed legislation from Louisiana Radio Network:
"McCormick says putting additional barriers between legal gun owners and their right to carry in public is infringing on basic American rights.
The legislation still requires a concealed carrier be legal to own firearms. Opponents argue concealed carry creates additional public risk, and so the licensing classes exist to ensure gun owners are responsible and informed enough to concealed carry. McCormick disagrees."
The first term rep adds that he thinks that if his bill passes, it would be signed into law by Governor John Bel Edwards.