It appears that Louisianans will get the chance to vote on a significant revision to the state’s right to keep and bear arms this November.

Presently, La. Const. Art. I, Sec. 11 reads as follows:

“The right of each citizen to keep and bear arms shall not be abridged, but this provision shall not prevent the passage of laws to prohibit the carrying of weapons concealed on the person.”

Under Senate Bill 303, introduced by state Sen. Neil Riser (R-32), the constitution would be amended with the following:

“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.”

Senate Bill 303 and its companion in the House have the support of the National Rifle Association and Governor Bobby Jindal, providing it with gun totin’ bona fides. However, there is still ongoing debate over what this new amendment will do if it passes.

Of course, certain Chicken Littles have come out of the woodwork to condemn the language. The Council for a Better Louisiana opposes it, as does New Orleans D.A. Leon Cannizzaro, both citing somewhat vague reasons. The message is essentially “there’s just something wrong here, darn it; we just don’t know exactly what it is.”

Here’s the real skinny: Yes, SB 303 and its House clone will strengthen gun rights in Louisiana. Yes, many existing gun laws will likely be struck. No, the sky is not falling.

The proposed changes to gun rights are admittedly sweeping. The right to keep and bear arms is defined as “fundamental” and subjected to the highest standard of review available, namely “strict scrutiny.” Equally importantly, the exception for laws that “prohibit the carrying of weapons concealed on the person” is eliminated.

The current state law on unlawful carrying of weapons (La. R.S. 14:95) only regulates the carrying of concealed weapons. Put bluntly, I don’t know how this law can pass constitutional muster under the proposed amendment. Without the current exception for concealed weapons laws, and applying strict scrutiny, it will be a constitutional right to carry a handgun on your person, concealed or unconcealed.

This also means that Louisiana Concealed Handgun Licenses will go the way of the dodo. You don’t need a government license to exercise a fundamental right.

In gun rights circles this is referred to as “Constitutional Carry.” If you want your secret agenda, look no further. SB 303 is clearly intended to strike a blow against concealed handgun laws.

That said, there’s nothing wrong with Constitutional Carry. Four states already have it, and they haven’t turned into lawless abominations. Citizens of Vermont, Arizona, Alaska and Wyoming can legally carry guns, concealed or unconcealed, without a government issued licenses.

One of those states, Vermont, has actually never prohibited the carrying of concealed handguns. As of 2006, Vermont ranked 48 out of 50 states in terms of violent crimes committed per 1,000 citizens.

Presently, Louisiana is on the extreme end of the spectrum when it comes to carrying concealed without a permit. In State v. Young, 472 So.2d 297(La. App. 1 Cir. 1985), for example, the ban on carrying concealed firearms was extended to the defendant’s own driveway. Technically, even concealing a firearm on your own property is presently a state felony. That would all change if the new amendment passes in November.

Constitutional carry is a winner for Louisianans. Carrying a firearm should not be a crime by itself. It isn’t inherently wrong and doesn’t pick anybody else’s pocket, so to speak. Likewise, I see no reason to believe that it will inhibit law enforcement or increase violent crime.

On balance, SB 303 improves our constitution. It’s good law, which these days often seems to be in short supply.

Owen Courrèges, a New Orleans attorney and resident of the Garden District, offers his opinions for UptownMessenger.com on Mondays. He has previously written for the Reason Public Policy Foundation.