The Indiana General Assembly is back in session until March 14. There have been several good bills introduced which Hoosier gun owners should be supporting and one which could create problems for law-abiding gun owners.
In the Indiana Senate, Senator Johnny Nugent has introduced the "parking lot" bill -- this bill passed the Senate last year, but did not get a hearing in the House. Senate Bill 25 would prohibit a person (which includes an individual, a corporation, and a governmental entity) from adopting a policy prohibiting a person from having a lawfully possessed firearm locked in the trunk of his vehicle while that vehicle is parked in that person's parking lot. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Corrections, Criminal, and Civil Matters, which is chaired by Senator Brent Steele.
There are three bills in the Legislature, which are directed at the disclosure of the personal information of a citizen who has been issued a" License to Carry Handgun" by the State of Indiana. Currently, under the law concerning "access to public records," the State Police are required by statute to provide, for a fee, the information on the application. There are newspaper editors in the state who have published some of that data, and knowledgeable people agree that publishing names and addresses of people who are complying with the law would be irresponsible.
Senator Greg Walker has introduced Senate 195, which would make confidential, personal information about the holder of the license available only to government entities for law enforcement purposes or to determine the validity of the license.
Representative Peggy Welch introduced House Bill 1068, which is much like Senator Walker's bill except it would also allow general information (not disclosing the identity of the person) about the applicant to be released to a person doing journalistic or academic research.
Representative Mike Murphy's House Bill 1219 prohibits release of all the applicants’ information except to a law enforcement agency for law enforcement purposes. Only aggregate information with any information identifying the individual deleted could be obtained by a person doing journalistic research, but does not include academic research.
Representative Murphy's bill also includes the much-needed language prohibiting gun confiscation of the type done by the city of New Orleans -- certain political subdivisions could not adopt ordinances to regulate firearms if a local disaster emergency has been declared. Anyone familiar with the abuses against law-abiding citizens who wanted to protect themselves and their property against criminal activity during the Katrina emergency acknowledges the need for such prohibition.
Senator Walker's bill has been referred to the Committee on Corrections, Criminal, and Civil Matters, chaired by Senator Steele.
The House bills have been referred to the Natural Resources Committee, chaired by Representative Bob Bischoff. Representative Bischoff introduced HB 1065, which prohibits the state, a political subdivision, or any other person from prohibiting or restricting the lawful possession, transportation, use, etc. of firearms or ammunition during a declared emergency. Mr. Bischoff's bill also includes a provision similar to Senator Nugent's bill regarding a lawfully owned firearm locked in a vehicle in or on a parking lot.
The bill that is causing concern is Representative Shelli VanDenburgh's House Bill 1058. Most of us probably follow the recommendation that if we have a lawfully possessed handgun in our vehicle and possess a valid license to carry, we should, if stopped for a traffic offense, advise the officer that we have the permit and a handgun in the vehicle. Representative VanDenburgh's bill would make it mandatory that you immediately announce this to the officer. First failure to do this would be a Class C infraction and a subsequent failure would be a Class B infraction.
Our legislators need to hear from us on these bills. To access General Assembly information on members and legislation, and committee hearing dates, log in to www.in.gov/legislative.
Senators and
Representatives can also be contacted by telephone at:
1-800-382-9467 for the Senate
1-800-382-9842 for the House
The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the McDonald v. City of Chicago case on March 2, 2010.
To keep informed on this case as well as action taking place across the country, go to www.nraila.org.
Freedom is a wonderful thing -- maintaining it requires each of us to do our part.