Quick Legal Facts
Statewide Preemption:
No.
Concealed Carry:
Intentional concealment of automatic knives is prohibited. Other knives, including assisted opening knives is permitted.
Minors:
No restrictions.
Schools:
The intentional possession of a dangerous weapon on school property, during school hours or on a school bus, is prohibited.
Major Cities with Knife Ordinances:
Baton Rouge, New Orleans
Critical Dimensions:
Five-inch (5") limitation on rescue knife blade length.
Prior to August of 2018, Louisiana outlawed the “manufacture, ownership, possession, custody or use of any switchblade knife, spring knife or other knife or similar instrument….” That language was removed from Louisiana’s law, effective August 1, 2018. The new statute focuses on concealment of knives, not ownership and possession of knives:
(a) The intentional concealment on one’s person of any switchblade knife, spring knife, or other knife or similar instrument having a blade which may be automatically unfolded or extended from a handle by the manipulation of a button, switch, latch, or similar contrivance located on the handle.
(b) The provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply to the following:
(i) Any knife that may be opened with one hand by manual pressure applied to the blade or any projection of the blade.
(ii) Any knife that may be opened by means of inertia produced by the hand, wrist, or other movement, provided the knife has either a detent or other structure that provides resistance that shall be overcome in opening or initiating the opening movement of the blade or a bias or spring load toward the closed position.
La. R.S. § 14:95(4)(a) and (b). (Emphasis added.)
Thus, a person may not carry an automatic knife intentionally concealed, but may carry an automatic knife openly or unintentionally concealed. General principles of statutory interpretation provide that all words must be considered as significant. Presumably intentional concealment requires more than simply dropping a knife into a pocket for convenience. Limited guidance as to what is, or is not, intentional is provided by §14:10 and § 14:11.
Under current law, Louisiana has no restriction on the ownership or possession of any knife, so long as the owner complies with the foregoing rules governing concealment of automatic knives.
It is important to note that under Louisiana law, statutes apply only to matters arising after the effective date of the law, unless there is express language in the statute stating that it applies retroactively. There is no such language in the 2018 amendment. Therefore, the new statute offers no protection to anyone who was arrested, charged, and/or convicted before August 1, 2018.
Minors:
No restrictions.
Schools:
The intentional possession of a dangerous weapon on school property, during school hours or on a school bus, is prohibited. La R.S. § 14:95.2 The term “school” is broadly defined to include any elementary, secondary, high school, vocational-technical school, college, or university in the State.
Statewide Preemption:
No.
Major Cities with Knife Ordinances:
Baton Rouge – Possession of a firearm or other instrumentality intended for use as a dangerous weapon not permitted where alcoholic beverages are sold and/or consumed. New Orleans – Prohibitions as to knives in certain public buildings.
Critical Dimensions:
Five-inch (5″) limitation on rescue knife blade length.
Concealed Carry:
Intentional concealment of automatic knives is prohibited. Other knives, including assisted opening knives is permitted.