GOA Forces Lafayette to Back Down On “Gun-Free Zones” In Downtown

The College of Louisiana (UL) Lafayette campus dropped its bid to make downtown Lafayette a “gun-free zone” by designating the Lafayette Science Museum and momentary scholar housing a college zone after a risk of a lawsuit by Gun House owners of America (GOA).

Underneath Louisiana regulation, something inside a 1000 ft radius of a college is taken into account a “secure college zone” the place firearms are banned. Sure companies and organizations in Louisiana have tried to take advantage of this regulation, together with the New Orleans Police Division (NOPD), which designated a police station a “college.” GOA threatened to sue the NOPD, and on the eve of the lawsuit, the NOPD dropped its declare that the police station was a college.

UL tried to do the identical factor with the Lafayette Science Museum and two rented lodges in downtown Lafayette. The varsity put up “secure college zone” indicators, making it unlawful to hold a firearm within the downtown space. Lafayette Mayor-President Monique Blanco Boulet stated that the Lafayette Police Division (LPD) would begin imposing the ban on firearms within the downtown space that week.

Performing on behalf of GOA, Lafayette-based lawyer Joshua Barnhill despatched a letter on August 22 to Mayor-President Monique Boulet, Interim Police Chief Paul Trouard, and college representatives demanding that the College take down the indicators or face the authorized wrath of the gun rights group who’ve had a number of authorized victories throughout the nation. GOA gave the town till Tuesday to take away the indicators and never implement the mandate.

Metropolis-Parish Lawyer Pat Ottinger claimed that the deadline was unreasonable and the town didn’t have time to answer the gun rights group’s assertions. GOA wouldn’t budge, and the deadline would stay the identical. Although the lawyer stated GOA didn’t give them sufficient time to reply, the town and College backed down after eradicating the indicators late Tuesday, changing them with indicators stating that the buildings are “gun-free zones,” however the surrounding areas will not be.

The Mayor-President’s workplace and LPD will not be responding to the media’s requests for remark, however the College did launch a press release to the general public. UL said that after searching for additional authorized steerage, they realized that the College couldn’t ban weapons outdoors the buildings as a result of they don’t personal the buildings. They stated they work to not infringe on any constitutional rights.

The College’s assertion reads:

Louisiana regulation, R.S. 14:95.6, requires universities to submit indicators figuring out firearm-free zones at college campus entrances. The state regulation is ambiguous in defining what constitutes a “campus,” so the College of Louisiana at Lafayette appeared to the federal Clery Act, that governs campus crime reporting, for a definition. The Clery Act definition of campus expressly contains property owned or managed by the College, which led to the posting of the “Secure Faculty Zone” indicators.

The College sought extra clarifications from the Acadiana legislative delegation and their authorized employees. This led to the dedication that underneath state regulation, the definition of campus could not prolong to property that the College doesn’t personal. Accordingly, the College has eliminated the “Secure Faculty Zone” indicators erected on the Science Museum and on the lodges getting used as momentary scholar housing, as a result of they aren’t owned by the College.

The College works to keep away from infringing on any constitutional rights whereas additionally guaranteeing the security and welfare of our college students. Due to this fact, as approved by state regulation, the College has changed “Secure Faculty Zone” indicators with “Weapons-Free Facility” signage that precludes firearms inside these amenities however doesn’t set up any zones outdoors them.

This transformation won’t fulfill gun rights activists as a result of weapons are banned contained in the science museum, however the College claims the constructing is a part of the campus. It stays to be seen if extra strain shall be positioned on the College to take away the gun-free indicators contained in the museum.

About John Crump

Mr. Crump is an NRA teacher and a constitutional activist. John has written about firearms, interviewed individuals from all walks of life, and on the Structure. John lives in Northern Virginia together with his spouse and sons, observe him on X at @crumpyss, or at www.crumpy.com.