Legal Question in Civil Rights Law in Louisiana
University of Louisiana in Monroe has a campus policy that prohibits the keeping of guns in vehicles while on campus ( http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/85a4be6e#/85a4be6e/60 ). L.R.S. 14:95.2 and L.R.S. 14:95.6 seem to protect the right to possess a firearm within a motor vehicle even within a firearm free zone. Can this policy be legally enforced?
1 Answer from Attorneys
I have had several discussions about this with Judges, other lawyers, and police officers. My belief is that you are 100% correct and you may still carry your gun in your vehicle even in a firearm free zone. There are several Louisiana Supreme Court cases which state that having a gun in your vehicle is not "on your person" and is legal for everyone except felons. Therefore, I would argue that, so long as the weapon is not on your person (e.g., in your glove box), you are not in violation of the firearm free zone law. However, while I would love to litigate that issue, you are likely risking becoming a test case if you simply ignore the rule and enter campus with your gun in your car. You probably don't want to risk that. Leave the gun at home, but talk to your campus administrators and open a discussion about the issue. People who believe in the right of law-abiding citizens to bear arms should be more vocal about the erosion of their rights. If you don't say something on your campus, who will?
Related Questions & Answers
-
I got detained for a bench warrant for failure to appear child support that was... Asked 11/23/10, 11:52 am in United States Louisiana Civil Rights Law
-
How do you sentence a person who can't read or understand comprehend to what their... Asked 11/08/10, 11:24 am in United States Louisiana Civil Rights Law