LA:Right to Arms Amendment Working

In Louisiana, a court case is headed to the Supreme Court, based on the right to keep and bear arms amendment that was overwhelmingly approved by voters last year.   The case is one of those that people point at as showing the insanity of the law.  Rico Webb, a 22 year old man with no criminal record, was in his girl friend's car when it was stopped for a broken taillight.   He had possession of a legal handgun, and he told police that he had a "blunt" (small cigar with marijuana filler) in his backpack.  

Possession of the marijuana blunt would be a misdemeanor.  Possession of both the blunt and a handgun, under the inflexible drug and gun laws of Louisiana, meant a felony conviction with a sentence of 5-10 years and no possibility of parole.  The case was appealed under the new constitutional amendment, that protects rights that many in Louisiana thought that they already had.  The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case.  

Another case, one that challenges a broad prohibition on convicted felons possessing guns, has been heard by the Supreme Court.  A decision is expected shortly.

There is no current case before the court that challenges the law banning concealed carry of weapons without a state permit.   Many think that law will be found to be unconstitutional.

©2013 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch