Other legislation

If passed by voters in November, Senate Bill 303, sponsored by Riser, will give Louisiana the strongest gun protection in the nation and could guard against possible future Supreme Court rulings that might undermine the Second Amendment, Riser has said.

The bill would amended the Louisiana Constitution to say that the right of each citizen to keep and bear arms is fundamental and shall not be infringed upon.

Any restriction on that right would be subject to a “strict scrutiny” by courts.

A “strict scrutiny” standard is the most rigid standard of judicial review in the United States courts and requires the government to prove a “compelling state interest” to restrict the right to bear arms.

Riser said the bill was extremely important to him as an avid hunter and gun owner, but also in protecting the rights of all Louisiana gun owners.

“It was a long process to get it through, and I don’t think the vote shows how close it was at times, but I’m glad it’s gone through to the voters,” Riser said. “To handle a bill like this that protects citizens’ fundamental rights, is truly an honor.”

The amendment will appear on the Nov. 6 ballot as a “Yes” or “No” vote.

While it does not involve protecting a citizen’s fundamental rights, another bill sponsored by Riser is also aimed at Louisiana gun owners and hunters.

Senate Bill 224, authorizes proof of lifetime hunting, sports fishing and combination lifetime hunting and sports fishing licenses, certificate of firearm and hunter education, and certificate of boating safety education to be displayed on a drivers’ license.

Riser said the idea to draft the bill came to him just before a hunting trip.

“We were about to leave to go hunting, and I couldn’t find my hunting license,” Riser said. “I just thought we could put all your licenses on your driver’s license, so you wouldn’t have to mess with carrying or remembering all of them.”

The bill was signed by Jindal last week and will go into effect Aug. 1.

The state Office of Motor Vehicles will have until July 1, 2013, to begin issuing the new licenses.

Aiming to crack down on copper thefts around the state, Anders sponsored a bill that places more restrictions on scrap yard owners.

House Bill 1188 states that scrap yard owners can’t pay for copper with cash or buy scrap metal from anyone under the age of 18.

The scrap yard owners will also be required to take photos of the scrap metal they purchase and the sellers they buy it from.

“Copper theft is an issue from New Orleans all the way to Natchez, so it has to be dealt with,” Anders said. “This bill just tightens up the sale of copper and puts some holding patterns on both the seller and buyer.”

The bill passed both chambers of the legislature and now heads to Jindal’s desk.

Anders also worked to pass House bill 1192, which would establish a second class of public notary in parishes with a population of under 40,000.

“In these smaller rural parishes, we have a shortage of notaries, so this will make it easier for someone to be able to be recognized as a public notary,” Anders said.

The bill passed both chambers of the legislature and now heads to Jindal’s desk.