A Historic Opportunity For Louisiana Voters To Protect Their Gun Rights

By Chris W. Cox

FAIRFAX, Va. –-(Ammoland.com)- With just one vote on November 6th, you can build an iron wall around your Second Amendment freedoms and protect them from anti-gun, activist judges.

That’s because on your ballot this year is an amendment to Louisiana’s state constitution that would provide the most rock-solid state-level legal protection for the right to keep and bear arms in the nation. The language of the amendment reads:

The right of each citizen to keep and bear arms is fundamental and shall not be infringed. Any restriction on this right shall be subject to strict scrutiny.

The key words here are “strict scrutiny.” This is a legal term that guarantees the highest level of protection to a constitutional right. It’s reserved exclusively for those rights that are deemed “fundamental” – like the right to free speech or the right to vote.

For decades, anti-gun judges and lawyers have fought against the application of “strict scrutiny” to your fundamental Second Amendment rights. That’s because they know that without this gold standard of legal protection, gun-ban politicians are virtually unbound to pass any freedom-killing laws that infringe on your constitutional right to keep and bear arms.

And in 1977, the anti-gun lobby in Louisiana got its way.

That year, the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled that your Second Amendment freedoms can be restricted for virtually any reason. As a result, there is nothing in the Louisiana Constitution that would stop state politicians from passing even the most draconian anti-gun laws – including a ban on your right to carry a concealed firearm for protection… even if you’re in your own home!

As Executive Director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, I get to see firsthand the sinister ways state and local governments seek to destroy their citizens’ gun rights. The NRA is currently spending nearly $400,000 a month fighting to defeat numerous anti-gun laws in state and federal courtrooms across America.

The simple truth is without this vital constitutional amendment, your gun rights as a Louisiana citizen are ripe for the picking.

That’s why the NRA worked closely this past year with Governor Bobby Jindal, State Senator Neil Riser, State Representative Chris Broadwater and other pro-gun champions in the Louisiana legislature to overwhelmingly pass this constitutional amendment and get it on the ballot.

But now it’s up to you! On Election Day, every gun owner and freedom-loving voter who believes the right to own, carry and use a firearm is an individual and fundamental right — that no government can infringe upon – needs to get to the polls and “Vote Yes on 2!”

By doing so, you’ll send a clear message to all of America that Louisiana is at the forefront of the battle to protect our Second Amendment liberty!

Chris W. Cox is Executive Director of the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action and serves as the organization’s chief lobbyist. For more on La.’s proposed constitutional amendment, visit www.nraila.org/YESon2.

About:
Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen’s group. Four million members strong, NRA continues its mission to uphold Second Amendment rights and to advocate enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation’s leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the military. Visit: www.nra.org