The Louisiana Senate Committee on Local and Municipal Affairs will not take up Sen. Kirk Talbot's bill Wednesday that would require anyone carrying a concealed gun in New Orleans' French Quarter to possess a valid conceal carry permit -- even after the state's "constitutional carry" law goes into effect this summer.
The bill was removed from the committee agenda late Tuesday.
New Orleans Police Superintendent Ann Kirkpatrick would like to see the bill eventually get considered, and she would like to see it expanded beyond the French Quarter.
"That's what I would like, the whole city of New Orleans carved out," said NOPD Superintendent Ann Kirkpatrick.
Kirkpatrick says she realizes in this political climate she probably won't get that, but maybe they could do more than just the French Quarter.
"And that would include what I call that 'hospitality zone,'" the chief said, explaining, "the Superdome all the way down Poydras-- think about all the people who are going to leave those venues and they are going to walk down to the hospitality areas."
The chief says the mass shooting on N. Peters Street in the Warehouse District shows that are other areas in addition to the French Quarter that need this protection.
Sen. Kirk Talbot's bill would essentially preserve the status quo in the French Quarter -- if an officer suspects someone is carrying a concealed gun, they can ask to see a permit, and if the subject doesn't have one, cite them for violating the law.
Sen. Talbot's bill would also make carrying a concealed gun illegal at certain sporting events.
