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While Congress debates a ban on so-called assault weapons, a Metairie lawmaker wants to make it so that residents of Louisiana could still buy and sell them, even if the proposed ban becomes federal law.
State Rep. Joe Lopinto says the key is the interstate commerce clause of the Constitution, and having gun makers set up shop in Louisiana.
"If you manufacture a weapon completely within the state of Louisiana and only sell that to Louisiana residents themselves, that does not at that point in time become interstate commerce," Lopinto said.
He's prepared a bill to create a state license for making and selling firearms within state boundaries only that he says would supplant the federal licensing system.
"If that gun manufacturer wants to...manufacture that gun completely in Louisiana, they can sell to Louisiana state firearms dealers, and then a Louisiana resident can purchase those residents from them," said Lopinto.
