Abbeville council looks at weapon ordinance

The state’s Constitution grants Louisiana citizens the right to bear arms, however, there are restrictions as to where one can possess a dangerous weapon.
The Abbeville City Council voted 5-0 Tuesday during an ordinance committee meeting on a pair of measures that will more clearly define where those areas are in the city. The ordinances will have to go before the full council for a vote at an upcoming regular meeting.
One ordinance would adopt the state’s statute which creates a firearm free zone. That includes any elementary school, middle school, high school, college, university or trade school. The zone extends to the area 1,000 feet from any of those campuses.
“By definition firearm free is not limited just to guns,” City Attorney Ike Funderburk explained to the council. “It also covers dangerous weapons.”
The zones would cover the areas around Abbeville High School, Eaton Park Elementary School, Harvest Time Christian Academy, Herod Elementary School, J.H. Williams Middle School, Lighthouse Christian Preparatory School, Mount Carmel and Vermilion Catholic. The zone would also cover the South Louisiana Community College’s Gulf Area Campus.
The city also voted Tuesday to authorize City Engineer Gene Sellers and his firm Sellers and Associates to create a city map officially depicting “Firearm Free Zones.” The map will locate all city real estate within the zones. The map will be published and recorded at the Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court’s Office in the Vermilion Parish Courthouse. The city will place signs in the designated zones.
There are exceptions to the zones. The statue does not apply to federal, state and local law enforcement buildings, a military base, or a commercial establishment that is permitted by law to have firearms or armed security. Private premises, including residence, are not affected by the zones.
“You have the right to have a gun in your home,” Funderburk said.
Someone driving through a zone on a public road with a weapon in his or her vehicle is not in
violation.
“If you are driving through a firearm free zone on a public street it is OK to have a weapon in your car,” Funderburk said. “One is allowed to have a firearm within a motor vehicle. You can’t drive on to campus with a gun.”
Carrying a gun in one of the zones is in violation of the ordinance.
The ordinance does set forth penalties for those found in violation.
“They will be subject prosecution not in our city court,” Funderburk said, “but in (15th Judicial) district court. That is what the state law provides.
“It can be a felony.”
Officials with the Vermilion Parish School System have issued support of the city’s move.
“I want to thank Superintendent Jerome Puyau for partnering with us on this,” Councilman Francis Touchet said.
The council also discussed in the committee meeting an ordinance that would prohibit weapons on city property. The ordinance would make it a misdemeanor to carry a weapon in such areas.
“The legislature gives a very broad definition of public buildings,” Funderburk said. “It would certainly include city hall and our parks. It would also include restaurants, office buildings and shopping centers. This ordinance deals only with the public property owned by the city.”