Tomorrow: Louisiana Moms Demand Action Volunteers to Testify on Gun Legislation at House Committee Hearing

Tomorrow, volunteers with the Louisiana chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America will testify against two bills that would threaten public safety at a House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee hearing:

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.

Instead of passing laws that encourage people to shoot first and ask questions later, lawmakers should focus on policies that keep guns out of the hands of those who shouldn’t have them in the first place like Red Flag laws, which are proven to reduce gun violence.

Moms Demand Action volunteers will also testify in support of a Red Flag law at tomorrow’s committee hearing. HB 483 would empower law enforcement and district attorneys to petition a court to temporarily disrupt someone’s access to guns when they present a serious threat to themselves or others. Red Flag laws give law enforcement the tools they need to intervene in a crisis situation. Additional information about Red Flag laws is available here.

Yesterday, volunteers with the Louisiana chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America traveled to Baton Rouge to urge lawmakers to pass common-sense gun legislation, including HB 483. If you’d like to learn more about these bills, please don’t hesitate to reach out.