Louisiana CCW Bill Now in Effect

Louisiana HB 124, providing for the carry of any “instrumentality customarily used or intended for use as a dangerous weapon” as long as the carrier has a concealed handgun permit, took effect yesterday, August 1st. This includes knives, except, unfortunately, switchblades.

In 2018 Knife Rights was able to repeal Louisiana’s complete ban on switchblades, but in order to get it passed, we had to compromise by including the restriction that the knife not be “intentionally concealed on one’s person.” Unfortunately, HB 124 does NOT remove that specific restriction. Intentional concealed carry of a switchblade (automatic knife) remains illegal in Louisiana, even for concealed handgun permittees.

While requiring a CCW to carry a knife concealed is not optimal, we supported this effort as an incremental improvement in Louisiana law. Our ultimate commonsense goal is always to remove any restrictions to carry of any knife by law-abiding persons, period.

Knife Rights is America’s grassroots knife owners’ organization, leading the fight to Rewrite Knife Law in America™ and forging a Sharper Future for all Americans™. Knife Rights efforts have resulted in 34 bills enacted repealing knife bans in 23 states and over 150 cities and towns since 2010.