New Orleans police station in French Quarter designated as vocational technical school, bans guns in surrounding area
In an effort to enhance public safety in New Orleans’ French Quarter, a police station on Royal Street will be transformed into a vocational technical school. This move will instantly outlaw gun possession in the surrounding area, including a portion of Bourbon Street, as a new Louisiana law eliminating concealed carry firearm permits goes into effect.
Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick made the announcement at a news conference, stating that state law prohibits carrying concealed weapons within 1,000 feet of such a facility. The radius from the station will cover a significant section of the Quarter, including blocks of Bourbon Street.
District Attorney Jason Williams emphasized that this measure is not a workaround but a way to utilize existing laws to address public safety threats. Kirkpatrick explained that designating the station as a school will give officers more authority to stop and search individuals suspected of carrying weapons illegally in the area.
The new law eliminating the need for concealed carry permits was supported and signed by Governor Jeff Landry, making Louisiana one of the latest states to adopt such legislation. Despite objections from police and city officials, legislators did not exempt New Orleans or specific areas known for alcohol-fueled events.
City Council President Helena Moreno explained that the decision to turn the police station into a school was made to address potential concerns about a rise in gun proliferation in high-traffic areas. The law will be enforced in New Orleans starting August 1, when the city’s existing firearms ordinance expires.
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