No Guns or Knives at Galveston Mardis Gras

[Abraham]

To each his own.

Me, I don't like the crowds at Home Depot, HEB or Walmart, so I'm sure as heck not going to be part of a crowd I don't have to be part of...Mardis Gras - shudder.

On a side note, why do people parade anyway? Seems archaic and for me, lame... Perhaps, it an exhibitionist free for all or something like that? Or, maybe the American Idol syndrome?

(yes, I'm a curmudgeon, but that's not the point either...)

[Jeff Barriault]

Well, I'm not much for crowds myself, but my wife likes to participate in the umbrella parade with her friends. They went all out this year with a theme and costumes and were official entrants in the competition. I'm a serious amaeture photographer and love to tag along and photograph the festivities. But I'm not going to go into a crowd like that with $2.000.00 worth of camera equipment on my person unarmed.

My wife was a little irritated with me at first that I didn't simply go put my gun back in the car and join her. She didn't want me to ruin her fun. At the end of the evening after I had filled her in with the details of my ordeal, however, she was proud of me. She was proud of the fact that I stood up for my principles and beliefs. She was also happy I won the battle, and relieved that she didn't have to bail mo out of jail.

[G27RR]

Good for you for persevering.

[hpcatx]

They're not really up to anything other than trying to keep the illegal guns out.

I'm not familiar with LA laws. Is there a law that prevents a CHL from carrying in NO during Mardi Gras?

Yes. Parades are off limits for CC.
G. No concealed handgun permit issued pursuant hereto shall authorize or entitle a permittee to carry a concealed handgun in any of the following:
9. a parade or demonstration for which a permit is issued by a governmental entity;

This is a constant issue of debate within the CHL community in Louisiana. Most believe that "in" is different than "at" in the above quoted law and that the prohibition is for participants, not spectators. Of course, at best this is one of those issues where you might be the rap, but not the ride. NOPD has unequivocally said this is not their interpretation of the law and the Orleans Parish DA was one of the most vocal opponents of the recent state constitutional change to strengthen gun rights language.

Interesting, I recently read a response by Wyndie Chifici to an inquiry regarding these matters on another forum. Wyndie is the civilian administrator who "runs" the concealed handgun licensing division at the Louisiana DPS. (In quotes because a trooper oversees the office, but she is known to be the person who really gets things done over there.)

From: Wyndie.Chifici@dps.la.gov [mailto:Wyndie.Chifici@dps.la.gov] On Behalf Of concealed.handguns@dps.state.la.us
Sent: Friday, February 01, 2013 9:28 AM
To: XXXXXX
Subject: Re: Louisiana Concealed Handgun Permit as it relates to Parades


The permit does not prohibit a person from carrying while being a spectator.


01/28/2013 03:50 PM
To <concealed.handguns@dps.state.la.us>
cc
Subject Louisiana Concealed Handgun Permit as it relates to Parades

I have a question concerning the Louisiana Concealed Handgun Permit as it
relates to a parade that requires a permit, such as a Mardi Gras parade. I
understand that the concealed handgun permit does not authorize anyone to
carry a concealed handgun while participating "in" a parade. The question
that I would like clarified is whether or not the concealed handgun permit
authorizes a permittee to carry a concealed handgun while attending a parade
as a spectator?

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions necessary to
clarify the question that I am asking.

Thank you in advance for your response.

This is not my email exchange, so I would exercise caution. Plus, spending a few days in jail waiting to appear before a magistrate in Orleans Parish doesn't sound like a pleasant way to spend the Mardi Gras holiday.

[hpcatx]

Jeff, you did well. Thanks for standing up for the rights of CHL holders. An impressive tale.

[hillfighter]

On a side note, why do people parade anyway? Seems archaic and for me, lame... Perhaps, it an exhibitionist free for all or something like that? Or, maybe the American Idol syndrome?

How do you feel about funeral processions with the headlights and everything?

[jmra]

They're not really up to anything other than trying to keep the illegal guns out.

I'm not familiar with LA laws. Is there a law that prevents a CHL from carrying in NO during Mardi Gras?

Yes. Parades are off limits for CC.
G. No concealed handgun permit issued pursuant hereto shall authorize or entitle a permittee to carry a concealed handgun in any of the following:
9. a parade or demonstration for which a permit is issued by a governmental entity;

This is a constant issue of debate within the CHL community in Louisiana. Most believe that "in" is different than "at" in the above quoted law and that the prohibition is for participants, not spectators. Of course, at best this is one of those issues where you might be the rap, but not the ride. NOPD has unequivocally said this is not their interpretation of the law and the Orleans Parish DA was one of the most vocal opponents of the recent state constitutional change to strengthen gun rights language.

Interesting, I recently read a response by Wyndie Chifici to an inquiry regarding these matters on another forum. Wyndie is the civilian administrator who "runs" the concealed handgun licensing division at the Louisiana DPS. (In quotes because a trooper oversees the office, but she is known to be the person who really gets things done over there.)

From: Wyndie.Chifici@dps.la.gov [mailto:Wyndie.Chifici@dps.la.gov] On Behalf Of concealed.handguns@dps.state.la.us
Sent: Friday, February 01, 2013 9:28 AM
To: XXXXXX
Subject: Re: Louisiana Concealed Handgun Permit as it relates to Parades


The permit does not prohibit a person from carrying while being a spectator.


01/28/2013 03:50 PM
To <concealed.handguns@dps.state.la.us>
cc
Subject Louisiana Concealed Handgun Permit as it relates to Parades

I have a question concerning the Louisiana Concealed Handgun Permit as it
relates to a parade that requires a permit, such as a Mardi Gras parade. I
understand that the concealed handgun permit does not authorize anyone to
carry a concealed handgun while participating "in" a parade. The question
that I would like clarified is whether or not the concealed handgun permit
authorizes a permittee to carry a concealed handgun while attending a parade
as a spectator?

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions necessary to
clarify the question that I am asking.

Thank you in advance for your response.

This is not my email exchange, so I would exercise caution. Plus, spending a few days in jail waiting to appear before a magistrate in Orleans Parish doesn't sound like a pleasant way to spend the Mardi Gras holiday.

I grew up around NO cops...I would not be caught with a gun on a parade route. You might not live long enough to show your license.
Nor would I hang out on bridges.