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HLS 26RS-1240 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 586
BY REPRESENTATIVE COX
WEAPONS/FIREARMS: Creates the crime of allowing a minor child to access a readily
dischargeable firearm
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 14:95.11, relative to offenses affecting the public safety; to create the crime
3 of allowing a minor child to access a readily dischargeable firearm; to provide for
4 penalties; to provide for exceptions; to provide for definitions; and to provide for
5 related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 14:95.11 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 §95.11. Allowing a minor child to access to a readily dischargeable firearm
9 A. No person shall fail to secure or leave a readily dischargeable firearm in
10 a place where the person knew or reasonably should have known that a minor child
11 could gain access to the readily dischargeable firearm and, as a result, a minor child
12 obtains possession of the readily dischargeable firearm and does either of the
13 following:
14 (1) Discharges the firearm and causes death or bodily injury to himself or
15 another person.
16 (2) Exhibits the firearm in a threatening, careless, or angry manner in a
17 public building, public place, or school as defined by R.S. 40:1291.3.
18 B. Whoever violates the provisions of this Section shall be imprisoned for
19 not more than six months, fined not more than one thousand dollars, or both.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-1240 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 586
1 C. The provisions of this Section do not apply in any of the following
2 circumstances:
3 (1) When a minor child unlawfully enters a dwelling or vehicle and takes or
4 misappropriates the firearm.
5 (2) When a minor child obtains access to and uses the firearm for the
6 purpose of hunting or sporting activities.
7 (3) When a minor child accesses a firearm to engage in the lawful defense
8 of a person or property.
9 (4) When a person is carrying a firearm on his person.
10 D. No peace officer nor any other person shall arrest a person for a violation
11 of this Section before the seventh day following the date when the offense is alleged
12 to have been committed if both of the following circumstances exist:
13 (1) The offender is a member of the family of the minor child who
14 discharged the firearm.
15 (2) The minor child has caused death or serious injury to himself through
16 discharge of the firearm.
17 E. For the purposes of this Section, the following terms have the following
18 meanings:
19 (1) "Firearm" means any pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun, machine gun,
20 submachine gun, or block powder weapon, that is designed to fire or is capable of
21 firing fixed cartridge ammunition or from which a shot or projectile is discharged by
22 an explosive.
23 (2) "Minor child" means a person who is fifteen years of age or younger.
24 (3) "Readily dischargeable firearm" means a firearm that is loaded with
25 ammunition, whether or not a round is in the chamber.
26 (4) "Secure" means to take the steps of a reasonable person under the
27 circumstances to prevent a minor child from accessing a readily dischargeable
28 firearm. For purposes of this Section, "secure" includes but is not limited to the
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-1240 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 586
1 placing of a firearm in a locked container or temporarily rendering the firearm
2 inoperable by a trigger lock or other means.
3 Section 2. This Act shall be cited and referred to as "Noah's Law".
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 586 Original 2026 Regular Session Cox
Abstract: Creates the crime of allowing a minor child to access to a readily dischargeable
firearm.
Proposed law creates the crime of allowing a minor child to access to a readily dischargeable
firearm and provides for conduct that constitutes this offense.
Proposed law provides for a penalty for violations that consists of imprisonment for not more
than six months, a maximum fine of $1,000, or both.
Proposed law provides for exceptions.
Proposed law provides for particular circumstances when an immediate arrest for a violation
of proposed law is prohibited.
Proposed law defines the terms "firearm", "minor child", "readily dischargeable firearm",
and "secure".
Proposed law shall be cited and referred to as "Noah's Law".
(Adds R.S. 14:95.11)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.