Louisiana Moms Demand Action, Everytown Respond After Louisiana House Committee Passes Reckless Gun Bills

HB 281 Would Tie the Hands of Local Governments That Attempt to Pass Gun Violence Prevention Measures

HB 235 Would Dangerously Expand Louisiana’s Stand Your Ground Law

BATON ROUGE, La. — The Louisiana chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today criticized the Louisiana House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee for voting to advance HB 281, which would undermine the ability of mayors and local police chiefs to keep their communities safe, and HB 235, which would expand Louisiana’s Stand Your Ground law to allow any person to shoot and kill someone in a place of worship. Moms Demand Action volunteers testified against both bills.

“It’s frustrating to see those who were elected to represent us pass bills that are certain to threaten the safety of our communities,” said Angelle Bradford, volunteer leader with the Louisiana chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “I urge lawmakers to instead focus on what Louisiana really needs: common-sense legislation that would actually prevent gun violence.”

HB 281 is a preemption bill that would eliminate the authority of local governments to prohibit the possession of firearms in commercial establishments and public buildings, including establishments that serve alcohol and buildings where children play. Preemption laws undermine the ability of mayors and local police chiefs to keep their communities safe. More information on preemption laws is available here.

HB 235 would expand Louisiana’s Stand Your Ground law to allow any person to shoot and kill someone in a place of worship, even if they aren’t a threat. The bill allows any person inside of a place of worship to kill someone who is unlawfully in the building, even if the shooter does not fear injury, opening the door for the bill to be exploited. There is no research indicating that Louisiana’s existing self-defense law is not working. More information on the danger of Stand Your Ground laws is available here.

On Monday, volunteers with the Louisiana chapter of Moms Demand Action traveled to Baton Rouge to urge lawmakers to pass common-sense gun legislation.