A sense of optimism is in the air. New Orleanians are hopeful that lingering infrastructure and quality-of-life issues will finally be addressed by Mayor-elect Helena Moreno and the new city council. But they face additional stiff challenges intertwined with great opportunity. No issue can shatter momentum — or destroy lives — more quickly than violent crime.
Let’s start with the state Legislature. In 2024, lawmakers passed a law allowing people 18 or older, without training or a background check, to carry a concealed weapon unless they are felons. Recognizing the danger to those visiting the French Quarter, local business and political leaders urged a limited carveout for the city’s “crown jewel.” After all, guns are already banned in bars, and much of the Quarter functions as an open-air saloon. The Legislature ignored the plea.
The impact was immediate. Law enforcers lost the ability to conduct proactive gun enforcement. According to the Metropolitan Crime Commission, arrests involving weapons charges plummeted from an average of 33 per month before the law’s enactment to only 10 afterward — a 70% drop…