ACADIANA, La. (KLFY) — Following the arrest of Crowley teen Markinely Tezeno, 19, for illegal carrying of a firearm, police remind the public that handguns are prohibited from parades.

Chief Kip Judice with the Duson Police Department said as the carnival season inches closer to Mardi Gras, it is important to know the law.

“People show up for those events for a family fun event,” he said. “It’s an event where a lot of things can happen and a person in possession of a firearm is likely to make poor judgment at that time and that could certainly result in some enhanced criminal offenses. Especially during this carnival season people partake in alcohol, partake in other things that would impair their judgment and so just having a firearm is a bad idea.”

Judice added that law enforcement wants everyone in Acadiana to have an enjoyable Mardi Gras season, but it starts with responsibility and each individual that comes to the parade making wise decisions.

“It’s easy to get tempers popping up and we just discourage that,” he said. “I mean, we would like for everybody to come to the festival, to the season, to the parades and enjoy themselves and if they do that, then I think everybody would end up walking away happier and with a better season.”

A full list of where handguns are prohibited can be found here.

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