What’s legal about carrying a firearm?

Carrying a concealed handgun in Louisiana is legal if the person has a permit, Eunice Police Chief Randy Fontenot explained at a recent City Council meeting.
“I get a lot of questions every week,” he said. “People question me about if it is legal for them to carry a handgun.”
People may apply for a permit to carry a concealed gun through the Louisiana State Police, which as an online application.
“It cost a little money,” Fontenot said. “You have to attend a concealed carry class.”
A background check is conducted in a process that may take several weeks and even months to complete, he said.
“If you do not have concealed carry permit it does not prohibit you from carrying a handgun or any type of legal weapon,” he said.
The problem with openly carrying a firearm was demonstrated Sunday in Gulfport, Mississippi, when a man entered Walmart, Winn-Dixie and Krispy Kreme stores with a shotgun.
The Sun Herald reported police said a man went into Walmart with a shotgun, purchased ammunition and loaded the weapon.
The action sent patrons fleeing police responding with massive resources, the Gulfport police chief said.
No charges have been filed, but a prosecutor said charges are being studied.
The Eunice police chief said while open carry is legal in Louisiana, there are exceptions.
“You can put a gun on your hip just like police do,” he said. “You can walk around and that is perfectly legal except you cannot go into certain places.”
Fontenot said concealed and open-carry weapons are usually prohibited in federal buildings, bars and lounges.
“In Louisiana if any residence or place of business posts a sign that no firearms are allowed then you cannot have a firearm in there at all whether it is concealed or exposed,” he said.
Fontenot cautioned that travelers should check with other state laws regarding weapons.
The police chief said he also is questioned about firearms in vehicles.
“You can carry a firearm in a vehicle,” he said. “A lot of people believe you have to have it sitting out in the open. This is not the case. In your vehicle you can conceal a weapon anywhere.”
But the law changes once a person exits a vehicle, he said.
“If you don’t have a concealed carry permit though and you it in your purse, once you step out of the vehicle it has to be exposed.”