Miguez seeks attorney general's opinion on science museum gun-free school zone

LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) -- A state lawmaker is challenging University of Louisiana at Lafayette's gun-free school zone for the science museum downtown. The university operates the museum, but Lafayette Consolidated Government owns the facility.

Republican Senator Blake Miguez, of New Iberia, is requesting the attorney general's opinion on the issue. The senator is saying that it seems universities or local governments are not respecting the legislative intention of the new concealed carry law and are changing policies to create new gun-free zones.

"You can have a citizen walking down the street, living within a thousand feet of the downtown area, steps onto the public street to get his mail. He's carrying his firearm for self-protection when suddenly he's being criminalized simply for exercising his Second Amendment rights," Miguez said.

The senator understands UL's campus as a gun-free zone for those who constitutionally carry. 

"The issue here is that there are locations off campus that are, in this case, operated under a cooperative endeavor agreement as a museum," Miguez said.

The senator said the attorney general provided input during a media statement.

"She agreed with my position that she didn't believe that these new properties met the definition of school property, creating a gun-free zone. To make things official, I've officially asked the Attorney General for an opinion letter," Miguez said.

UL Lafayette declined to comment.

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