Legislative findings

(1) The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution provides that, "[a] well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed". (2) Article I, Section 11 of the Louisiana Constitution provides that "The right of each citizen to keep and bear arms is fundamental and shall not be infringed. Any restriction on this right shall be subject to strict scrutiny." (3) Federal law (18 U.S.C. 922(g)) prohibits a person who has been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year from purchasing a firearm. (4) Federal law (18 U.S.C. 922(g)) further prohibits any person who the court has determined to have certain mental conditions from purchasing a firearm. (5) Based upon the successful interfacing of state law enforcement agencies with the Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal databases, information regarding a person's criminal convictions is available at the point of sale. (6) However, the reporting of judicial decisions which would, in effect, prohibit a person from being eligible to purchase a firearm under federal law has not been consistent nor has the information been uniformly reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. (7) The state of Louisiana has a compelling interest in protecting and preserving the fundamental rights of its citizens to keep and bear arms while also ensuring the timely reporting of information to the Federal Bureau of Investigation regarding court decisions which would prohibit the purchase of a firearm. (8) It is the express intention of the legislature that the provisions of this Section and R.S. 13:753 are enacted to provide for the collection of information and to facilitate the reporting of information which would prohibit the purchasing of firearms while preserving the constitutional rights of Louisiana citizens to keep and bear arms.