NEW ORLEANS — By the end of the week, concealed carry will go into effect, and anyone 18 or older who is not a convicted felon can carry a gun without a permit.
“The potential for a bad outcome is magnified by more people carrying guns,” Metropolitan Crime Commission President Rafael Goyeneche said. “It's not going to make it safer. I think it's going to make it more dangerous.”
On Monday, city leaders announced a legal loophole that will ban guns in parts of the French Quarter. The loophole is a vocational-technical school in the 8th District Police Station. Under state law, guns are prohibited within 1,000 feet of schools.
One day later, Attorney General Liz Murrill responded, accusing the NOPD of avoiding state law.
“It is my job to make sure everyone is staying inside the lines of the law, and I don’t think they’re doing that here,” Attorney General Liz Murrill said.
Murrill released a statement, questioning the legitimacy of the school.
“They cannot just declare a police station office a vocational-technical school in a press conference. It doesn’t work that way,” Murrill said.
According to New Orleans City Council President Helena Moreno, they’ve taken steps to meet the right criteria for the school.
If the NOPD is to make an arrest within that radius, Murrill also warned there could be legal trouble.
Attorney and legal expert Craig Mordock says she’s right.
“There are certain state requirements you need to meet, and the 8th District Police Station just holding classes does not meet those requirements,” Attorney Craig Mordock said. “It's just going to expose them to massive lawsuits.”
Murrill says she and Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick have plans to meet in person and discuss their concerns.
We reached out to the NOPD for a response, and they didn’t get back to us.
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