◆ LOUISIANA · CARRY LAW
Louisiana.
Information, not legal advice. Confirm with the state before you carry.
Kept in this browser only. Never sent to us.
◆ THE SHORT ANSWEREvery tile below is one of the answers further down this page, with its citation.
Concealed, no permit
Yes
Open, no permit
Yes
In a vehicle, no permit
Yes
Getting a permit
Yes, shall-issue
- You must tell an officer you are carrying, before being asked.
◆ CARRYING HERE
What Louisiana requires
The state's permit is the Concealed Handgun Permit, issued by the Louisiana State Police.
Carrying without a permit3
Can I carry concealed here without a permit?
Permitless or "constitutional" carry. "Limited" means some adults qualify and others do not. Read the qualifier.
Yes
18 or older and not otherwise prohibited. The optional permit still requires 21.
In force since July 4, 2024.
La. R.S. 14:95(M); Act 1, 2024 2nd Ex. Sess. (SB 1)Read at the Louisiana State Police ↗Checked 9 days ago
Can I carry openly here without a permit?
Yes
Long permitted for adults who may lawfully possess a firearm.
Can I keep a loaded handgun in my car without a permit?
Yes
Two ways to the same answer: the offense only reaches a firearm concealed ON YOUR PERSON, so one stowed in the vehicle is outside it entirely, and if it is on you, permitless carry covers you at 18. The prohibited places still apply.
Permits and age3
If I want this state's permit, will they issue one?
Shall-issue means the state must issue to any qualified applicant. May-issue leaves it to an official's discretion.
Yes, shall-issue
Can I get this state's permit if I live somewhere else?
No
The permit requires Louisiana residency.
How old do I have to be to carry here?
The floor for the least restrictive lawful route. Where permitless and permit ages differ, the qualifier says so.
18
18 to carry without a permit; 21 for the Concealed Handgun Permit and for recognition in most other states.
If an officer stops you1
Do I have to tell an officer I am armed?
"Required" means you must volunteer it on contact. "On request" means only when asked.
Required
Applies whether or not you hold a permit, and it is more than telling them: you must notify the officer, submit to a pat down, and let them temporarily disarm you.
Buying and owning2
Do I need a state-issued card just to own or buy a firearm here?
Illinois' FOID is the main example. Distinct from a carry permit.
Not required
Is there a limit on magazine capacity here?
No limit
How the state governs guns2
Can a city here write its own gun rules on top of the state's?
Full preemption means state law is the only law. Partial means some cities may go further. Check locally.
No, state law is the only law
Does this state have a red-flag law?
An extreme risk protection order lets a court order firearms surrendered temporarily.
No, none in this state
◆ RECIPROCITY
Permits Louisiana honors
If you are visiting Louisiana, this is whether your permit counts here.
Pick a state for the full answer with its citation, or find it in the grid below.
Honored37
Not honored17
◆ RECIPROCITY, THE OTHER WAY
Where Louisiana permits are honored
If you live in Louisiana, this is where your permit travels.
Pick a state for the full answer with its citation, or find it in the grid below.
Honored34
Honored, with a condition3
Not honored17
◆ NFA ITEMS
Suppressors and NFA legality
Federal registration is required everywhere these are legal. A state can prohibit them regardless, and several do.
Can I possess a suppressor here?
Federal NFA registration is required everywhere it is legal. State law can prohibit it regardless.
Legal
Lawful with the federal paperwork, and registrable with the state. Louisiana registers a muffler or silencer rather than prohibiting it.
Can I possess a short-barreled rifle here?
Legal
Lawful with the federal paperwork, and registrable with the state. Louisiana registers a rifle under sixteen inches rather than prohibiting it.
Can I possess a short-barreled shotgun here?
Legal
Lawful with the federal paperwork, and registrable with the state. Louisiana registers a shotgun under eighteen inches rather than prohibiting it.
Can I possess a machine gun here?
Federally, civilian possession is limited to pre-1986 registered transferables.
Legal
Lawful with the federal paperwork. Louisiana’s ban excepts anything “lawfully manufactured, transferred, or possessed under federal law”.
Can I possess an AOW here?
Legal
Lawful with the federal paperwork. Louisiana’s registration definition does not reach an AOW unless its serial number has been obliterated.
No any-other-weapon provision in La. R.S. §§ 40:1751-1798Read at the Louisiana Legislature ↗Checked 9 days ago
How we checked there is no such law
Read §§ 40:1751, 1752 and 1781 in full at the Legislature on 2026-09-07, walking the document ids to reach them, and searched chapter 9 for “cane gun”, “pen gun”, “wallet gun”, “zip gun” and “any other weapon”. The only “any other firearm” is the obliterated-serial clause above.◆ SOURCES
Where this comes from
This is information, not legal advice. Gun law changes often and the penalty for getting it wrong is criminal. Confirm every answer with the state before you carry there.
- The authority
- the Louisiana State Police ↗
- ATF’s index
- Louisiana firearm statutes ↗ (PDF)