Louisianians Voice Opinions on Proposed Gun Laws
By: Nina Criscuolo
Updated: January 17, 2013
Opinions are shooting off in Louisiana about the new gun laws on the table. For some the President Obama's proposals are a logical step to fight gun violence, but for others it's a threat to their livelihood.
"We've sold so many more guns this year. Our gun sales are probably double what they were at this time last year... Today we probably got in 200 boxes of 22 ammo and it was gone in 15 minutes," says TP Outdoors Owner, Bill Petrus.
Business is booming at his stores. So much so, Petrus says it's hard to keep up with demand.
"As you can see we've got a ton of guns here, but a lot of them aren't what they want. They're wanting the military style gun and hand guns to protect themselves with. Those type guns are really hard to get," says Petrus.
He worries the surge in sales could easily slump if the president's plan plays out.
"What it does to me and my employees, who knows. It could cost jobs," says Petrus.
Still supporters of stronger gun control say President Obama's new laws are needed.
"I think they're mainstream and I think they're long overdue," says Monroe attorney and Louisiana ACLU Board Member Charles Kincade believes most Americans are on board with his beliefs...
"We have an epidemic of gun violence in this country," he says.
And while the Bill of Rights protects gun owners, Kincade says it's not absolute.
"Every right is subject to reasonable restrictions and limitations and that's what this is. It's reasonable. It's unreasonable that people can own weapons of war. It's unreasonable that people can obtain weapons without appropriate background checks. This is a very moderate, reasonable and measured approach," he says.
Petrus says everyone looking to buy a gun in his store must fill out a detailed form and provide identification as part of Louisiana law.
"We call the FBI and they check your background," he says.
Petrus says that's enough and stricter enforcement of current laws could reduce gun violence alone.
"There's no reason to write new laws if you're not enforcing the ones you've got," he says.
Some are also questioning if a new constitutional amendment in Louisiana will protect the state. In anticipation of new gun laws, Bayou State citizens passed the constitutional amendment in November making the right to bear arms a fundamental right. The amendment also requires any restriction on the right to be strictly scrutinized. Still Kincade says if the president's proposal passes, he believes it would hold up in court.
"It would certainly pass any legal challenge," he says.
"We've sold so many more guns this year. Our gun sales are probably double what they were at this time last year... Today we probably got in 200 boxes of 22 ammo and it was gone in 15 minutes," says TP Outdoors Owner, Bill Petrus.
Business is booming at his stores. So much so, Petrus says it's hard to keep up with demand.
"As you can see we've got a ton of guns here, but a lot of them aren't what they want. They're wanting the military style gun and hand guns to protect themselves with. Those type guns are really hard to get," says Petrus.
He worries the surge in sales could easily slump if the president's plan plays out.
"What it does to me and my employees, who knows. It could cost jobs," says Petrus.
Still supporters of stronger gun control say President Obama's new laws are needed.
"I think they're mainstream and I think they're long overdue," says Monroe attorney and Louisiana ACLU Board Member Charles Kincade believes most Americans are on board with his beliefs...
"We have an epidemic of gun violence in this country," he says.
And while the Bill of Rights protects gun owners, Kincade says it's not absolute.
"Every right is subject to reasonable restrictions and limitations and that's what this is. It's reasonable. It's unreasonable that people can own weapons of war. It's unreasonable that people can obtain weapons without appropriate background checks. This is a very moderate, reasonable and measured approach," he says.
Petrus says everyone looking to buy a gun in his store must fill out a detailed form and provide identification as part of Louisiana law.
"We call the FBI and they check your background," he says.
Petrus says that's enough and stricter enforcement of current laws could reduce gun violence alone.
"There's no reason to write new laws if you're not enforcing the ones you've got," he says.
Some are also questioning if a new constitutional amendment in Louisiana will protect the state. In anticipation of new gun laws, Bayou State citizens passed the constitutional amendment in November making the right to bear arms a fundamental right. The amendment also requires any restriction on the right to be strictly scrutinized. Still Kincade says if the president's proposal passes, he believes it would hold up in court.
"It would certainly pass any legal challenge," he says.
