SHREVEPORT, La — In a surprising revelation, Love Shreveport-Bossier Media discovered that even police officers may not always have accurate knowledge of certain laws, underscoring the importance of personal legal education.
EXAMPLE 1: GUN LAWS
Last year, Love Shreveport-Bossier Media conducted an informal survey by calling five police officers to ask whether it was legal to ride with an AR-15 fully loaded with a 100-round drum magazine.
Surprisingly, two officers believed it was illegal. However, the fact is, it’s legal.
EXAMPLE 2: OPEN CARRY REGULATIONS
At a Caddo Commission meeting over a year ago, an attorney for the Parish incorrectly stated that open carry firearms must be unloaded. Many Caddo Commissioners agreed with the incorrect statements while trying to create legislation to ban a firearm from being loaded, which they later discovered they couldn’t legally do.. but Contrary to this attorney’s claim, it is confirmed that open carry laws do allow firearms to be loaded.
EXAMPLE 3: FIREWORKS ON JUNETEENTH
In another instance, today Love Shreveport -Bossier Media asked three police officers if it was legal to pop fireworks for Juneteenth inside the city limits of Shreveport, Louisiana.
Only 1 officer correctly stated that it was legal. The law, which was amended back in 2020, permits fireworks from June 16th to June 20th in celebration of Juneteenth.
These examples highlight the importance of knowing the law for oneself, as even those tasked with enforcing it may sometimes provide incorrect information.
