2A Victory: Louisiana Opens Concealed Carry to Non-Residents!

BATON ROUGE, LA — In a major win for Second Amendment advocates, Louisiana has officially enacted House Bill 407, removing residency restrictions for concealed handgun permits. Signed by Governor Jeff Landry, the new law—effective August 1, 2025—enables non-residents to apply for and receive Louisiana concealed carry permits. This legislation is a direct result of the Firearms Policy Coalition’s lawsuit, Mate v. Wescott, which challenged the state’s previous residency limitations on permit issuance.

Since July 4, 2024, Louisiana has recognized permitless carry, also known as constitutional carry, allowing law-abiding adults—including non-residents—to carry a concealed handgun without a permit. However, carrying under constitutional carry does not grant access to certain restricted areas where permits are required by either federal or state law.

Most notably, a permit issued by the state where a school zone is located is required under federal law to legally carry a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school zone. Additionally, Louisiana has designated specific “firearm-free zones”—such as certain government buildings and posted locations—where carrying is only allowed if you possess a valid Louisiana concealed handgun permit. Non-residents carrying under constitutional carry do not meet this requirement. HB 407 closes that gap by allowing eligible non-residents to apply for and obtain a Louisiana permit, enabling legal carry in these otherwise restricted zones.

Under the new law, any eligible adult, regardless of residency, can apply for a Louisiana concealed carry permit—granting them additional legal protections not covered under constitutional carry alone. This includes enhanced reciprocity benefits and the ability to carry in areas off-limits to permitless carriers.

The Firearms Policy Coalition celebrated the passage of the bill, with FPC President Brandon Combs stating, “We are thrilled that Louisiana has made this critical change to improve access to the right to bear arms.” He also urged lawmakers in Washington to advance H.R. 38, a bill that would establish national reciprocity for concealed carry permits.

For those who travel frequently or maintain property or family connections in multiple states, this reform is especially significant. While non-residents could already carry under constitutional carry, they previously had no way to obtain a Louisiana-issued permit. For example, I split my time between Nevada and Louisiana, and having a Nevada resident permit allows me to legally carry in Louisiana because the state honors it. However, this new law provides the option to obtain a Louisiana permit as well—something previously unavailable to non-residents. You can verify reciprocity status using our concealed carry reciprocity maps.

With the passage of HB 407, non-residents who meet eligibility requirements will soon be able to apply directly for a Louisiana concealed carry permit—an important option for those looking to stay compliant with federal school zone laws, state-defined firearm-free zones, or expand their reciprocity coverage.

Those interested in applying or learning more can visit our Louisiana concealed carry permit information page for up-to-date application procedures and eligibility requirements.

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