Quick Legal Facts
Statewide Preemption:
No.
Concealed Carry:
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 limitation on rescue knife blade length.
In Louisiana, it is legal o possess or own any knife, except for automatics (switchblades). Louisiana’s criminal statutes provide:
A. Illegal carrying of weapons is:
(4)(a) The manufacture, ownership, possession, custody or use 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(A)(4).
In 2012, subpart 4(b) was added to the preceding statute in order to exclude the emerging technology category of assisted-opening knives and limit application of the switchblade prohibition to push-button automatic knives. This is a well-written statute that clearly distinguishes assisted opening knives from gravity knives. Louisiana residents are protected from the unreasonable gravity knife prosecutions that plague knife owners elsewhere in the U.S.
Louisiana also recognizes an exception for “rescue knives.”
J. The provisions of this Section shall not prohibit the ownership of rescue knives by commissioned full-time law enforcement officers. The provisions of this Section shall not prohibit the carrying of rescue knives by commissioned full-time law enforcement officers who are in the actual discharge of their official duties. The provisions of this Section shall not prohibit the sale of rescue knives to commissioned full-time law enforcement officers. The provisions of this Section shall not prohibit the ownership or possession of rescue knives by merchants who own or possess the knives solely as inventory to be offered for sale to commissioned full-time law enforcement officers. As used in this Subsection, a rescue knife is a folding knife, which can be readily and easily opened with one hand and which has at least one blade which is designed to be used to free individuals who are trapped by automobile seat belts, or at least one blade which is designed for a similar purpose. No blade of a rescue knife shall exceed five inches in length.
La. R.S.§ 14:95(J)
Statewide Preemption:
No.
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.
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 limitation on rescue knife blade length.
Concealed Carry:
Permitted.