This session at the Statehouse has been very much in the news. Property taxes are most of what is in the news cycle. I went into this session, knowing there were four very solid pro 2nd Amendment (2A) bills all with a good chance of getting a committee hearing. When the buzzer sounded at halftime, only one of the four bills had received a hearing and moved forward. While I really don’t like saying, “We’ll get ‘em next year” in reference to some really good pro-2A legislation, the bill that moved forward received outstanding support from both sides of the aisle.
House Bill (HB) 1137 Expungement of Red Flag Law Records is the bill that prevailed this year. These are civil proceedings and there is currently no expungement of civil records, even if the accusations are false and brought maliciously. This bill was authored by Representative Ben Smaltz (authored Indiana’s Constitutional Carry of Handguns law) and had co-authors which included strong 2A supporter Representative Jim Lucas.
On 22 January HB 1137 received a hearing in the House Courts and Criminal Code Committee. Testifying in support was Guy Relford from The 2A Project, ISRPA President Charlie Hiltunen speaking on behalf of the NRA, one individual representing himself, and myself from the ISRPA. There was no testimony in opposition. HB 1137 passed out of committee on an 11-0 vote. As someone who testifies in support of pro-2A legislation, I’m not used to bipartisan support, let alone unanimous support.
On to the House Floor for 2nd reading (amendments proposed/voted on) and 3rd reading (vote by the full House of Representatives. On 30 January, HB 1137 passed the House on a 91-0 vote. Unanimous support, again I’m not used to such a thing.
On to the Senate goes HB 1137 where it’s assigned to the Corrections and Criminal Law Committee. While in the Senate the bill picked up sponsorship from several strong pro-2A Senators including Aaron Freeman, Eric Koch, and (ISRPA Southwest Director) Jim Tomes.
On 4 March HB 1137 came up for a committee hearing in the Senate. Five were signed up to testify, all in support. These included Guy Relford from The 2A Project, myself from the ISRPA, two individuals testifying on behalf of themselves, and Michael Moore. Not Michael Moore the over-rated filmmaker, Michael Moore from the Public Defenders Council. I’ve been in the same committee hearing with him many times. This is the first time we were on the same side of an issue.
HB 1137 was voted out of the Corrections and Criminal Law Committee 9-0. On 11 March it passed the full Senate 49-0. HB 1137 will be going to Governor Braun’s desk without a single vote in opposition. Again, as someone who mostly testifies in support of pro-2A issues, I’m not used to unanimous support.
While HB 1137 is very important legislation, there is more work to be done. More work starts with folks like me. Three very good pro-2A bills never got a hearing. Is it time to change strategy? Maybe so, because I really don’t like saying, “We’ll get ‘em next year.”
Kelly Myers
Co-Director Government Affairs
