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Indiana House voted on Monday to eliminate the state’s handgun license – an apparent victory, at least temporary, for Second Amendment gun rights supporters.
Bill 1369, which passed the House by a 65-31 vote and now heads to the Senate, repeals a law that requires a person to obtain a license to carry a handgun in Indiana, according to the Indianapolis Star
It allows anyone legally able to carry and own a firearm to do so without a license or license issued by the government, according to reports. The bill clarified that some offenders could still be prohibited from carrying handguns.
Supporters of the bill argue that the authorization process punishes law-abiding citizens and residents should not have to pay for a right guaranteed by the Second Amendment.
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“Anything that can make it easier for someone who is a law-abiding citizen is always something that I think I’ll try to support,” said Indianapolis gun owner Eric Housman. , according to FOX 59 of Indianapolis.
Police, however, argued that eliminating screening processes would put more guns on the streets, making communities less safe.
“I think we’re all very strong supporters of the Second Amendment,” said Lafayette Police Chief Patrick Flannelly of the Indiana Association of Chiefs of Police. “By repealing processes like this which are good filtering mechanisms, we will be putting more guns on the streets, and there will be people who shouldn’t be carrying them will be carrying them.”
Currently, to apply for a new Indiana license to carry a handgun, you must be 18 years of age or older, register online, make an appointment to have your fingerprints taken, and complete law enforcement processing. local within 180 days.
“This bill is for the legitimate citizen of the state of Indiana,” said bill author Republican Ben Smaltz, a Republican. “This bill is for the person who obeys our laws and who, right now, has to overcome obstacles to be the person who gets the permit.
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Of more than 120,000 handgun license applicants in 2020, nearly 4% were refused, according to state data. Flannelly said his department denied 55 people a transport permit last year based on their background checks.
“We are going to remove a tool from our law enforcement officers to help make communities safer and actually help keep our police officers safer,” he told the police station.
The licenses raise $ 5.3 million a year to train local law enforcement officers, and taxpayers will be forced to partially recover the bill, the newspaper reported.
Critics also argue that it will not be easy for the police to verify if someone is authorized to carry a gun. or check out which ones are trying to wear when they’re not supposed to, according to the Indianapolis Star.
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The bill would eliminate the license in March 2022.
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