For state Rep. Terry Landry, voting for Amendment 2 is like opening Pandora’s Box.
Landry represents District 96 - created after the last U.S. census - which covers portions of Lafayette, St. Martinville and New Iberia. He’s also a retired State Trooper, and he's a gun owner. But for Landry, Amendment 2 is setting the stage for what he believes could be the eventual elimination of all gun ownership restrictions. Landry, in a prepared statement, says:
I believe Amendment 2 would take Louisiana in the wrong direction on a matter that has direct impact on public safety. I speak as a gun owner and a strong supporter of the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution that protects our rights of gun ownership. I also speak as a 30-year veteran of the Louisiana State Police, as well as a former director of security at Louis Armstrong Airport and at Southern University.
Landry says that during this year’s Legislative Session, the Amendment’s chief backer “said he wanted no limits that he wanted [guns] everywhere.” Landry's response:
That comment makes me shudder every time I think of it.
Under this amendment, the Legislature could loosen restrictions on concealed carry laws but it would be hard pressed to tighten them. What would be the proponents’ next step, if this amendment passes? To allow fans to bring guns into, say, Tiger Stadium after an afternoon of tailgating?
We have ample evidence that the current balance in the law has tipped in favor of those who want unrestricted access to guns and ammunition. We are reminded of this every few months by some horrific story of mass shootings from around the country. These shootings are carried out by people with mental problems, grudges against society, or because for a few minutes it gives them a feeling of power. Our current laws afford these people access to guns.
On the other side of the argument is one of the North Louisiana lawmakers who helped author the bill responsible for Amendment 2: 
District 14 Rep. John Morris.
In an interview with MyArkLaMiss.com, Morris argues “We want to affirm that the right to keep and bear arms is a fundamental right in Louisiana, so if anybody tries to impinge on that right, those laws would be declared unconstitutional under our state law as well as federal law.”
Go here for Rep. Landry’s full stance against Amendment 2.
Read more of Rep. Morris’ argument favoring Amendment 2 here.
MAY 20 This post by blogger CB Forgotston draws parallels between Gov. Bobby Jindal and two individuals he probably doesn't want to be aligned with: President Obama and former governor Edwin Edwards. CB says Jindal's trying to jack up the debt ceiling (an Obama play, according to CB) and buy votes from GOP leges who normally wouldn't go for that (an Edwards play, CB says).
MAY 20 Here's a post in the Baptist Message from an alumnus of Louisiana College. The author, Larry Burgess, calls on the leadership of the private school to take care of some pressing problems. Physical plant issues are critical and unaddressed, some faculty make so little they need government health care, and there is an atmosphere that does not encourage honest discussion, he writes. It's time to get things back in order, he says.
MAY 20 This post in Gambit tells of a benefit concert scheduled to raise money for the 19 people shot during a Mother's Day second line on Frenchmen Street in NOLA. Among them was Gambit blogger Deb Cotton, who spoke frequently about violence in the city and reported on the city's second line culture. Gambit's foundation, along with other NOLA non-profits, also is selling t-shirts to raise money for the victims.
MAY 20 Blogger Robert Mann is critical of the personal interest some legislators take in their work here, sharing the comments one NOLA solon made in explaining his decision to vote against a bill that would require people to stop discriminating against female workers. His wife might lose some salary, so he was going to have to vote against the equal pay bill, Conrad Appel said. Appel and everyone who heard him should have been ashamed, but they weren't, and that's what is wrong in that building, Mann argues.
MAY 20 American Press columnist Jim Beam writes about the budget again here, urging kudos for the House and its efforts to try to fix the budget as opposed to passing on a flawed and messy rubber-stamped document as it usually does. The Senate already is poo-pooing the effort, but instead Senators should be trying to find a way to improve it as well, Beam argues. He also has some predictions in here from LABI and CABL.
MAY 20 Here's a link to the photo gallery from Tulane's graduation this past weekend. Dr. John and Allen Toussaint played together and received honorary degrees. The Dalai Lama was so entranced by their performance he got up from his seat and walked across the stage to stand next to them. He even participated in a second line with his own personal, saffron-colored umbrella. To the graduates, he urged them to think about creating a peaceful, hopeful life and society.
MAY 20 This Picayune story questions the rhetoric of NOLA officials who say the city, aside from having a "murder problem," is safe. The talking points generally are that the criminals are killing each other, but everything else is OK. The police chief there says that even Lafayette is more dangerous than NOLA. But crime experts interviewed here say that NOLA's numbers indicate one of two things: either people are so used to violence they don't report it, or somebody's "fudging the numbers."
MAY 20 The Advocate's Mark Ballard writes about some of the background maneuvering that took place during the development of budget alternatives in the Legislature. From Rep. Joel Robideaux being called a "tax and spend liberal" to robo-call influence, Ballard lets us in on some of the work that happens behind the scenes but usually doesn't make it into the Advocate's daily coverage of the session.
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in the 30 years mr. landry was IN
law enforcement, gun crime increased, why is that? could it be the criminicals have the guns and the law abiding citizenS do not? He is also asking me to TRUST THE GOVERNMENT! I GUESS NOT!
VOTE YES AMENDMENT #2