New Orleans French Quarter businesses prepare for Louisiana’s permitless carry law to take effect
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — The French Quarter Business Association is offering signs to businesses that say: “No firearms allowed on this property.”
The association is hoping to join the New Orleans Police Department in keeping the French Quarter gun-free.
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“As a citizen or a resident, you always say is there anything I can do, and so, the French Quarter Business Association decided to take a stand. A very strong statement that we do not want guns in the French Quarter. There is a statute that you can say no firearms allowed on the property,” said entertainment lawyer Suzette Toledano.
A “No firearms allowed on this property” sign currently sits in the window of the historic New Orleans Collection Museum shop. French Quarter Business Association President Gina Raby explains the proposition is not being forced upon the business owners but offered as an option.
“As an organization, we wanted to give businesses a sign if they want to put it, they can. If they don’t, it’s their discretion. Just to kind of help everyone along and they can just pop it in the window,” said Raby.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, who backs the new state law, condemned the NOPD for recognizing its Eighth District Station as a school as a way to push back. Yet, legal expert Cliff Cardone says, in this case, it is legal to turn gun carriers around.
“This permitless carry law doesn’t exclude the French Quarter, but here in private businesses, the private businesses by statute are still allowed to restrict access for people that have permitless carry,” said Cardone.
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The signs are going out to those who want them, and the association is not stopping with just businesses.
“I contacted the two really active French Quarter resident agencies suggesting to them that they print these up as well and put them in the window. Make a concerted statement, we don’t want the French Quarter having guns,” said Toledano.
The association met with business owners at a luncheon with NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick in attendance in hopes that soon most businesses will be willing to put the sign in their doors.
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