The Louisiana Senate gave unanimous approval Tuesday to a bill that would provide incentives to people who lock up their guns to keep them away from children and burglars.
Under House Bill 247, gun owners would receive tax credits of up to $500 when they purchase a gun safe, lock box, or other secure storage device for their firearms. That proposal allows for one tax credit per gun owner per year beginning in 2023 through 2027. The state would pay out those credits until it reached a cap of $500,000 per year.
Rep. Mandie Landry (D-New Orleans) is the bill's sponsor. She says recent events in and around the Crescent City prompted her to draft the proposal.
"You know we've had so many firearm deaths, especially in this state," Rep. Landry told WWL's Tommy Tucker. "A lot of them are children who get a hold of a gun that's not locked up. We also have the epidemic of kids, for the most part, breaking into cars in New Orleans and stealing the guns in there.
Rep. Landry says she based her proposal on a law that's already in place in Virginia.
"The Virginia legislature and some of their gun safety groups partnered with the (National Rifle Association), and they offer a tax credit now for people who buy a gun storage device," Rep. Landry said.
According to Rep. Landry, prove why the lockbox incentive is needed in Louisiana.
"Louisiana is either number one or number two every year in the children per population who get shot by accidentally getting hold of a gun," Rep. Landry said. "We definitely need it here."
The bill also received unanimous approval in the House. Rep. Landry says she's is confident it will become law.
"Wherever you stand on guns, everyone agrees you need to safely store your firearm, make no question," Rep. Landry said.
