Flying to New Orleans with Texas CHL

[texas yankee]

We're flying to New Orleans in a few weeks - I know about the procedures for taking a gun on a plane in checked baggage.

We don't drink so we won't be cruising bars - it'll primarily be walking around and eating at restaurants near the French Quarter - while in New Orleans with my CHL and carrying a weapon concealed, what are the main differences between Louisana (New Orleans) concealed carry and Texas concealed carry?

Can I open carry in New Orleans with a Texas CHL?

Thanks!

Joe

[MBGuy]

There's a couple of more places that you can't carry by statute, like churches.

Some think that you can't carry into ANY restaurant that serves alcohol, but that's not the case. You can't carry into an establishment that servers alcohol with a Class A license, which also prohibits minors from being present. Put those two together and what they're talking about is a bar. I've even had that clarified by the state police.

Yes, you can technically open carry, with or without license, but I wouldn't try it in New Orleans, and especially not the French Quarter. The LEOs there think they can do whatever they want, and they don't like OC. Once your out in Metairie you're safer OC'ing. I've done it once in NO, but it was while walking in a gated community, no LEOs to harrass me, and once in Metairie while pumping gas for the trip home. Be aware that while the CHL grants you exemption from the federal 1000 foot rule from schools, open carrying is not exempted since it's unlicensed OC. So as soon as you OC within 1000 feet from a school, you're breaking federal law.

One item to be careful for is the Audubon Insectarium/Museum in the French Quarter. It's in a Federal Building, complete with metal detectors, so no carry in there at all.

[Pete92FS]

No carrying in casinos either.

[joe817]

It might be a very good idea to review the CHL laws of Lousiana before going there.

Here's the link to the Lousiana State Patrol website for CHL:

http://www.lsp.org/handguns.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ELB]

Be aware that while the CHL grants you exemption from the federal 1000 foot rule from schools...

I believe this is true only for CHLs issued by the same state in which the school resides -- NOT for out-of-state CHLs that the state recognizes through reciprocity...

[MBGuy]

Be aware that while the CHL grants you exemption from the federal 1000 foot rule from schools...

I believe this is true only for CHLs issued by the same state in which the school resides -- NOT for out-of-state CHLs that the state recognizes through reciprocity...

Ah! That's true, forgot about that one....

[texas yankee]

Thanks for all the information, guys. On the issue of OC being technically allowed but probably frowned on by LEOs, I also called the NOPD and they referred me to LA State Troop B - I called them, and the Trooper told me that there are no open carry provisions in LA. Not wanting to be a test case in a NO jail, I'll carry concealed while I'm there.

[MBGuy]

He lied (big surprise there.......not). It's in the state's constitution, and no municipality may overide it. Their was a grandfather clause, but at the time only a couple of towns had restrictions, and NO isn't one of them.

In nearby Gonzalez, LEO's harrased an OC'er. He sued and won.

Here's the final word:

http://louisianacarry.org/laws/Attorney ... 0carry.doc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There's plenty of other proof if you desire. You can go to http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/forum26/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for Louisiana OC information.

All that said, I'm with you and wouldn't recommend OC'ing in NO unless you have plenty of time and money and are willing to ruin your trip.

Edit: Well, he said the truth that there are not "provisions" for it, but he deliberately mislead you. There's no law against it.

[casingpoint]

Open carry in New Orleans? Don't. When you enter New Orleans, you are leaving the good ol' USA behind and entering a netherworld of urban crime and decay at it's very worst. Skeptical? Just read today's crime section at http://www.nola.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. Read it for two weeks straight and you might not even go there. And the French Quarter is no longer the safe zone it once was. Been a few robberies and murders there lately.



Here, Mayor Ray Nagin, right and Chief of Police Warren Riley at the start of another sweep of the Crescent City for open carriers.

[texas yankee]

So, if it's not illegal to open carry in LA, what happens to all the people that they pick up for open carry in NO?

[03Lightningrocks]

So, if it's not illegal to open carry in LA, what happens to all the people that they pick up for open carry in NO?

They take them out to the swamp and nobody ever hears from them again.


On a serious note...I wouldn't take anyone I love and care about to that place. Too much risk and if you don't plan on drinking, you just eliminated the only reason for that place to exist. JMHO...last time I was there was pre-Katrina and it was nothing but trouble back then. Some buds of mine went recently and said it was worse than ever.

[gregthehand]

I disagree with all the bad press NOLA is getting here. I actually lived there in 2007-2008 and 90% time the crime you see is criminal on criminal. There are a lot of homeless and and thug type people around however but if you are on your guard you will be ok. I have carried on around Jackson Square and Bourbon Street before. It can be a real hassle if you are with people that aren't aware you are carrying or are not carrying themselves. I have tried to do this and it was a huge hassle. They kept on wanting to go into bars and get drinks and I had to wait outside. Luckily they still wanted to walk around but just wanted their Hurricanes and Hand Grenades. Don't forget to check out the WWII museum. I have carried there no problem. The aquarium is also nice.

[texas yankee]

I didn't realize that the aquarium was back in business, post-Katrina. And thanks for the tip on the WW II museum, too. The thugs and homeless stuff can be a problem all over - I'm pretty street-wise - grew up in NYC. With what I've read here and elsewhere about open carry being legal but the cops picking ya up if ya do, just cause they don't like it, seems like at least some of the LEOs there are as much of a potential problem as the bad guys. And with all the eating we plan to do, we won't be able to run too fast.

[03Lightningrocks]

I didn't realize that the aquarium was back in business, post-Katrina. And thanks for the tip on the WW II museum, too. The thugs and homeless stuff can be a problem all over - I'm pretty street-wise - grew up in NYC. With what I've read here and elsewhere about open carry being legal but the cops picking ya up if ya do, just cause they don't like it, seems like at least some of the LEOs there are as much of a potential problem as the bad guys. And with all the eating we plan to do, we won't be able to run too fast.

Holy Cow...if you grew up in NYC, New Orleans will seem like McDonalds play land.

[texas yankee]

NYC isn't bad at all - it's cleaned up a lot since the old days when there were sections of "no mans land", and the Times Square area which used to be x-rated movies and all that stuff is pretty tame, too. Lots of nice, safe walking around areas - even at night.

Thanks again for all the good advice.