§2185. Retirement; purchase of firearm

A. Any sheriff or deputy sheriff who retires with at least sixteen years of active service and who is in good standing with the Louisiana Sheriffs' Pension and Relief Fund shall be entitled to purchase his firearm at fair market value upon retirement, subject to approval by the sheriff. If the qualifying sheriff or deputy sheriff was unable to purchase his firearm prior to his death, an immediate family member listed in Subsection B of this Section has the right of first refusal to purchase the firearm unless the immediate family member is prohibited from possessing a firearm under the provisions of R.S. 14:95.1 or any other state or federal law.

B. Unless the deceased sheriff or deputy sheriff has designated a specific immediate family member as the beneficiary to purchase his firearm upon his death, the following immediate family members have the right of first refusal to purchase the firearm in the following order of precedence:

(1) The surviving spouse of the deceased sheriff or deputy sheriff.

(2) A child of the deceased sheriff or deputy sheriff. If more than one child seeks to purchase the firearm, the oldest child who seeks to purchase the firearm precedes all other children who seek to purchase the firearm in the right of first refusal.

(3) A parent of the deceased sheriff or deputy sheriff.

(4) A sibling of the deceased sheriff or deputy sheriff. If more than one sibling seeks to purchase the firearm, the oldest sibling who seeks to purchase the firearm precedes all other siblings who seek to purchase the firearm in the right of first refusal.

C. If the firearm is part of an ongoing investigation or is being used or is needed as evidence, the provisions of this Subsection do not apply until the firearm is no longer part of the investigation or is no longer needed or being used as evidence. In such case, the immediate family member with the right of first refusal to purchase the firearm may request the release of the firearm pursuant to R.S. 15:41.

Acts 2010, No. 239, §1; Acts 2011, No. 24, §1, eff. June 14, 2011; Acts 2017, No. 332, §1.