Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb on March 21 signed into law a measure that will allow the state’s citizens to carry a handgun without a permit, also referred to as a “constitutional carry” bill by some, in reference to the Second Amendment.
The law becomes effective on July 1, after which people aged 18 and over won’t need to apply for a license to carry a handgun in the state, except for reasons such as having a felony conviction or having been diagnosed with a dangerous mental illness.
Indiana currently requires people to obtain a license to carry a loaded handgun outside their homes, businesses, or cars, although people can generally carry rifles and shotguns without a permit.
Holcomb’s signing of the bill comes just before the deadline on March 22, effectively making Indiana the 24th state in the nation that has a “constitutional carry” law. Other terms used to refer to the law include unrestricted carry or permitless carry.
Supporters say that requiring a permit undermines people’s Second Amendment rights by making law-abiding citizens go through police background checks that can take weeks. They also point out that criminals aren’t the ones applying for these permits, so only law-abiding people are obeying the requirement.
Opponents of the measure compare the permit requirement to how people have to obtain state-issued identification and register to vote in elections.
In a statement to media outlets, Holcomb said he fully supports the Second Amendment. He said the measure he signed into law “entrusts Hoosiers who can lawfully carry a handgun to responsibly do so within our State.”
A number of things remain unchanged with the new law, Holcomb said.
“It’s important to note that if a person is prohibited, under federal or state laws, from possessing a firearm before this law goes into effect, that person will still be prohibited. And if a prohibited person has a firearm, he or she can be prosecuted,” he said.
“Firearm permits will remain available, without fee, to anyone who wants or needs one, such as Hoosiers desiring to carry a firearm to, through or in another state that has reciprocity with Indiana.”
Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter issued a statement saying the state would continue to encourage people to apply for and maintain a gun permit.
“As Superintendent of the Indiana State Police, I have pledged my continued commitment to Governor Holcomb to work toward solutions enacting HEA 1296,” he said.
“I, like Governor Holcomb, feel enormous responsibility for front-line law enforcement officers. I will work with law enforcement leaders across our state to make necessary changes to firearms enforcement as well as identifying the best way to identify individuals who are not allowed to carry a firearm as defined by Indiana statute.”
