Governor Jindal's proposed raid jeopardizes Louisiana's concealed-carry permit process, instructor says

As Congress continues to discuss limiting Americans' access to certain firearms, Louisiana residents are lining up to take concealed-carry courses, but the process for receiving those permits may soon come to a screeching halt.

Gov. Bobby Jindal's budget proposal includes a $1.2 million raid on the state's Concealed Handgun Permit Fund, which provides money for the Louisiana State Police Concealed Handgun Permit Unit.

The act that established the fund states, "The monies in the Concealed Handgun Permit Fund shall be used solely for administration of the concealed handgun permit process." But Jindal's proposed budget calls for the use of dollars out of the dedicated fund as well as several others, including the Artificial Reef Development Fund and the Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund.

Gordon Hutchinson, the state's senior firearm-safety instructor, is concerned the raid may effectively shut down the state's concealed-carry program by greatly increasing the amount of time it takes applicants to receive their permits.