Louisiana bill would allow concealed guns at parades

BATON ROUGE, La. (WGNO) — A bill that would allow parade-goers in Louisiana to carry concealed guns is moving forward, but it hasn’t cleared the full legislature just yet.

House Bill 393 would change current state law, which bans firearms at parades and other permitted events. If passed, the measure would allow bystanders, but not parade participants, to carry concealed weapons.

Supporters say it’s about upholding constitutional rights.

“If this law prevails, it will allow bystanders to carry guns,” Cliff Cardone, owner of Cardone Law Firm said. “It will not permit riders to carry guns.”

But critics say the legislation puts public safety at risk, especially in crowded, unpredictable parade settings where families and children are often present.

“The biggest concern is, you know, having an incident in a crowd,” Michelle Foster with the Metropolitan Crime Commission said. “You have drinking, you have children. You know, the last thing you want is to have guns or a fight break out.”

HB 393 passed the House last month and advanced out of a Senate committee this week, with State Senator Regina Barrow casting the lone “no” vote. She raised concerns over safety and liability.

This proposed law follows the passage of permit-less concealed carry legislation last year, which allows anyone 18 or older to carry a concealed weapon in public without a permit.

Legal experts say the measure could override stricter local ordinances, such as New Orleans’ ban on firearms at parades.

“State law would, in a sense, prevent city law. We cannot have a city ordinance that is more restrictive than a state statute,” said Cardone.

The bill now heads to the full Senate for debate. If passed and signed by the governor, it could be in effect before 2026’s Mardi Gras season.

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