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Legal Information: Louisiana

Statutes: Louisiana

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Updated: 
November 16, 2023

Art. 1002. Transfer of firearms

A. (1) When a person has any of the following, the judge shall order the transfer of all firearms and the suspension of a concealed handgun permit of the person:

(a) A conviction of domestic abuse battery (R.S. 14:35.3).

(b) A second or subsequent conviction of battery of a dating partner (R.S. 14:34.9).

(c) A conviction of battery of a dating partner that involves strangulation (R.S. 14:34.9(K)).

(d) A conviction of battery of a dating partner when the offense involves burning (R.S. 14:34.9(L)).

(e) A conviction of possession of a firearm or carrying a concealed weapon by a person convicted of domestic abuse battery and certain offenses of battery of a dating partner (R.S. 14:95.10).

(f) A conviction of domestic abuse aggravated assault (R.S. 14:37.7).

(g) A conviction of aggravated assault upon a dating partner (R.S. 14:34.9.1).

(h) A conviction of any felony crime of violence enumerated or defined in R.S. 14:2(B), for which a person would be prohibited from possessing a firearm pursuant to R.S. 14:95.1, and which has as an element of the crime that the victim was a family member, household member, or dating partner.

(i) A conviction of any felony crime of violence enumerated or defined in R.S. 14:2(B), for which a person would be prohibited from possessing a firearm pursuant to R.S. 14:95.1, and in which the victim of the crime was determined to be a family member, household member, or dating partner.

(2) Upon issuance of an injunction or order under any of the following circumstances, the judge shall order the transfer of all firearms and the suspension of a concealed handgun permit of the person who is subject to the injunction or order:

(a) The issuance of a permanent injunction or a protective order pursuant to a court-approved consent agreement or pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 9:361 et seq., R.S. 9:372, R.S. 46:2136, 2151, or 2173, Children’s Code Article 1570, Code of Civil Procedure Article 3607.1, or Articles 30, 320, or 871.1 of this Code.

(b) The issuance of a Uniform Abuse Prevention Order that includes terms that prohibit the person from possessing a firearm or carrying a concealed weapon.

B. (1) The order to transfer firearms and suspend a concealed handgun permit shall be issued by the court at the time of conviction for any of the offenses listed in Subparagraph (A)(1) of this Article or at the time the court issues an injunction or order under any of the circumstances listed in Subparagraph (A)(2) of this Article.

(2) In the order to transfer firearms and suspend a concealed handgun permit the court shall inform the person subject to the order that he is prohibited from possessing a firearm and carrying a concealed weapon pursuant to the provisions of 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(8) and Louisiana law.

C. At the same time an order to prohibit a person from possessing a firearm or carrying a concealed weapon is issued, the court shall also cause all of the following to occur:

(1) Require the person to state in open court or complete an affidavit stating the number of firearms in his possession and the location of all firearms in his possession.

(2) Require the person to complete a firearm information form that states the number of firearms in his possession, the type of each firearm, and the location of each firearm.

(3) Transmit a copy of the order to transfer firearms and a copy of the firearm information form to the sheriff of the parish or the sheriff of the parish of the person’s residence.

D. (1) The court shall, on the record and in open court, order the person to transfer all firearms in his possession to the sheriff no later than forty-eight hours, exclusive of legal holidays, after the order is issued and a copy of the order and firearm information form required by Paragraph C of this Article is sent to the sheriff. If the person is incarcerated at the time the order is issued, he shall transfer his firearms no later than forty-eight hours after his release from incarceration, exclusive of legal holidays. At the time of transfer, the sheriff and the person shall complete a proof of transfer form. The proof of transfer form shall contain the quantity of firearms transferred. The sheriff shall retain a copy of the form and provide the person with a copy. The proof of transfer form shall attest that the person is not currently in possession of firearms in accordance with the provisions of this Title and is currently compliant with state and federal law, but shall not include the date on which the transfer occurred.

(2) Within ten days of transferring his firearms, exclusive of legal holidays, the person shall file the proof of transfer form with the clerk of court of the parish in which the order was issued. The proof of transfer form shall be maintained by the clerk of court under seal.

E. (1) If the person subject to the order to transfer firearms and suspend a concealed handgun permit issued pursuant to Paragraph A of this Article does not possess firearms, at the time the order is issued, the person shall complete a declaration of nonpossession form which shall be filed in the court record and a copy shall be provided to the sheriff.

(2) Within five days of the issuance of the order pursuant to Paragraph A of this Article, exclusive of legal holidays, the person shall file the declaration of nonpossession with the clerk of court of the parish in which the order was issued.

F. Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph E of this Article or any other provision of law to the contrary, if the person subject to the order to transfer firearms and suspend a concealed handgun permit issued pursuant to Paragraph A of this Article possessed firearms at the time of the qualifying incident giving rise to the duty to transfer his firearms pursuant to this Title, but transferred or sold his firearms to a third party prior to the court’s issuance of the order, that third-party transfer shall be declared in open court. The person subject to the order to transfer firearms and suspend a concealed handgun permit shall within ten days after issuance of the order, exclusive of legal holidays, execute along with the third party and a witness a proof of transfer form that complies with the provisions of Paragraph D of this Article and with Article 1003(A)(1)(a). The proof of transfer form need not be signed by the sheriff and shall be filed, within ten days after the date on which the proof of transfer form is executed, by the person subject to the order with the clerk of court of the parish in which the order was issued. The proof of transfer form shall be maintained by the clerk of court under seal.

G. The failure to provide the information required by this Title, the failure to timely transfer firearms in accordance with the provisions of this Title, or both, may be punished as contempt of court. Information required to be provided in order to comply with the provisions of this Title cannot be used as evidence against that person in a future criminal proceeding, except as provided by the laws on perjury or false swearing.

H. On motion of the district attorney or of the person transferring his firearms, and for good cause shown, the court shall conduct a contradictory hearing with the district attorney to ensure that the person has complied with the provisions of this Title.

I. For the purposes of this Title, a person shall be deemed to be in possession of a firearm if that firearm is subject to his dominion and control.