Louisiana has some of the country’s weakest gun laws and has repeatedly suffered some of the highest gun death rates. Enacting even modest gun safety legislation would go a long way to improve community safety in the state.
In spite of its general lack of firearm regulation, in recent years the state has enacted laws to strengthen some protections for survivors of domestic violence. In 2023, Louisiana had the second highest gun death rate among the states. In an average year, 1,207 people die from gun violence in the state. That means that someone dies from gun violence every seven hours. Thirty-eight percent of those deaths are gun suicides, and 59% are gun homicides. In Louisiana, the rate of gun deaths increased 49% from 2014 to 2023, compared to a 33% increase nationwide.
What Louisiana Does Well
- Certain domestic violence gun laws
- Disarming procedures
What Louisiana Is Missing
- Universal background checks
- Gun owner licensing
- Extreme risk protection orders
- Assault weapon restrictions
- Large capacity magazine ban
- Waiting periods
- Strong concealed carry law
- Open carry regulations
- Child access prevention laws
- Community violence intervention funding
SPOTLIGHT
GUN LAW SCORECARD
The data is clear: States with stronger gun laws have less gun violence. See how your state compares in our annual ranking.
Read MoreEXPLORE LOUISIANA’S GUN LAWS
WHO CAN HAVE A GUN
OWNER RESPONSIBILITIES
CHILD & CONSUMER SAFETY
GUNS IN PUBLIC
HARDWARE & AMMUNITION
OTHER LAWS & POLICIES
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We’re in this together. To build a safer America—one where children and parents in every neighborhood can learn, play, work, and worship without fear of gun violence—we need you standing beside us in this fight.
