§ 40:1781 — Definitions

Louisiana § 40:1781

• Jurisdiction: Louisiana
• Title 40: Public Health and Safety

Text

§1781. Definitions
For the purpose of this Part, the following terms have the meanings ascribed to them
in this Section:
(1) "Dealer" means any person not a manufacturer or importer engaged in this state
in the business of selling any firearm. The term includes wholesalers, pawnbrokers, and
other persons dealing in used firearms.
(2) "Department" means the Department of Public Safety.
(3) "Firearm" means a shotgun having a barrel of less than eighteen inches in length;
a rifle having a barrel of less than sixteen inches in length; any weapon made from either a
rifle or a shotgun if the weapon has been modified to have an overall length of less than
twenty-six inches; any other firearm, pistol, revolver, or shotgun from which the serial
number or mark of identification has been obliterated, from which a shot is discharged by
an explosive, if that weapon is capable of being concealed on the person; or a machine gun,
grenade launcher, bazooka, rocket launcher, excluding black powder weapons, or gas
grenade; and includes a muffler or silencer for any firearm, whether or not the firearm is
included within this definition. Pistols and revolvers and those rifles and shotguns which
have not previously been defined in this Paragraph as firearms from which serial numbers
or marks of identification have not been obliterated are specifically exempt from this
definition.
(4) "Importer" means any person who imports or brings into the state any firearm.
(5) "Machine gun" means any weapon which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be
readily restored to shoot automatically more than one shot without manual reloading by a
single function of the trigger. The term shall also include the frame or receiver of any such
weapon, and any part designed and intended solely and exclusively, or combination of parts
designed and intended, for use in converting a weapon into a machine gun. The term shall
not include items that are not required to be registered in the National Firearms Registration
and Transfer Record maintained by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives.
(6) "Manufacturer" means any person who is engaged in this state in the
manufacture, assembling, alteration, or repair of any firearm.
(7) "Muffler" or "silencer" includes any device for silencing or diminishing the report
of any portable weapon such as a rifle, carbine, pistol, revolver, machine gun, submachine
gun, shotgun, fowling piece, or other device from which a shot, bullet, or projectile may be
discharged by an explosive and is not limited to mufflers and silencers for firearms as
defined in this Section.
(8) "Transfer" includes the sale, assignment, pledge, lease, loan, gift, or other
disposition of any firearm.

Legislative History

Amended by Acts 1964, No. 51, §1; Acts 1975, No. 381, §1; Acts 1977, No. 532, §1; Acts 1988, No. 424, §1; Acts 2023, No. 120, §1.