Mary Tutwiler

State barraged by concealed handgun permit applications

by Mary Tutwiler

WWL First News, in New Orleans, is reporting this morning that the state is receiving a fusillade of applications from residents wanting to carry concealed handguns. State Police Public Information Officer Joey Piglia told WWL that the state has issued more concealed-carry permits in the first five months of 2009 than were issued for all of 2008. State officials approved 4,130 permits in 2008. Between January and May of 2009, “the state issued 6,131 permits, of which 4,185 were new permits, and 1,946 were renewals.”

Justin Roland, an employee at Dave’s Gun Shop on Kaliste Saloom in Lafayette, says he’s seen a spike in gun sales and ammunition this year. “Pretty much any type of gun used for home defense, whether it be a handgun, a shotgun or a high-capacity rifle,” says Roland. Mike Meyer, the owner of Jefferson Gun Outlet in Metairie, told WWL “that conversations with customers lead him to believe that concerns over the new White House administration are behind the surge in concealed-carry permits.”

Attorney General Eric Holder told ABC News in February, “As President Obama indicated during the campaign, there are just a few gun-related changes that we would like to make, and among them would be to reinstitute the ban on the sale of assault weapons.” Gun dealers say that the run on weapons is fueled by a fear that the White House would take away citizens’ Second Amendment rights.