New Law: Additional Exclusion to Illegal Carrying of a Weapon charge

Effective August 1, 2020, the Louisiana legislature added subsection (L) to Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:95, which added an exception to the statute’s prohibition against concealed carrying of a firearm or other dangerous weapon on one’s person.

Subsection L allows any person (provided that person is not prohibited from possessing a firearm under La. R.S. 14:95.1 - the felon in possession of a firearm prohibition statute or any other state or federal law) to carry a concealed firearm on 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 Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act.

The section further defines “in the act of evacuating” as: “the immediate and urgent movement of a person away from the evacuation area within 48 hours after a mandatory evacuation is ordered.” It also allows for the 48-hour window to be extended by an order issued by the governor.