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Indiana’s complex and ambiguous patchwork of gun laws has prompted Indiana Senate Republicans to author multiple pieces of legislation that would unify and loosen Indiana’s firearm regulations.

The first is SB 292, which would prohibit political subdivisions from regulating firearms, ammunition and firearm accessories.

It would allow the state to enforce universal, state-wide gun laws instead of permitting individual counties and cities to enforce conflicting regulations.

“They’re all sorts of units of government that, on their own, have set up their own particular ordinance and rule,” bill author Sen. Jim Tomes, R-Wadesville, said. “The problem for the legitimate gun owner … if they travel across the state of Indiana … could no way know the vast amount of rules that have been set up all across the state.”

Tomes is the founder and director for the Second Amendment Patriots, an Evansville organization “of local residents and family members who enjoy firearms,” according to its website.

The bill’s second author, Sen. Johnny Nugent, R-Lawrenceburg, said the situation was comparable to a change in speed limits from county to county or city to city. But in those cases, visible signs on the side of the road make clear the change of speed to drivers.

“There’s no way to ever know if you would be in violation of the law,” Nugent said of the changes in firearm laws from place to place.

The bill also states that if a political subdivision violates the legislation, damages may be recovered. The plaintiff, however, must be a legal U.S. resident who can lawfully own a gun.

On Feb. 14, SB 292 passed 38-12 in the Senate and has since been referred to the House of Representatives. It must pass there before it reaches the governor’s desk.
A concern with the bill is the effect it could have on Super Bowl XLVI, which will take place in Indianapolis next year.

Nugent said because the purchase of a ticket is a contract, Lucas Oil Stadium can restrict guns in the stadium if stadium officials so choose.

“They can prohibit whatever they want to prohibit,” Nugent said. “It would have to be in the contract with the purchaser of the ticket.”

Although Tomes said the bill’s authoring was out of primary concern for constituents, Nugent said he hasn’t talked to many people in his district regarding the bill.

Nugent said the National Rifle Association played a part in the legislation.

The second bill, also authored by Tomes with Sen. Dennis Kruse, R-Auburn, would reform current gun transport laws in the state.

Current law prohibits unlicensed gun owners from transporting a handgun anywhere
except to a residence or business after it is purchased.

According to the Indiana General Assembly website, Senate Bill No. 506 would allow an unlicensed gun owner to “carry the handgun at a shooting range, while attending a firearms instructional course or while engaged in a legal hunting activity.”

Additionally, an unlicensed gun owner may transport a handgun as long as it is unloaded and securely wrapped.

Opponents of these bills said they worry the legislation would lessen gun-carrying restrictions in public places, such as hospitals and parks, set by current county and city ordinances.

Tomes responded that the bill is aimed at law-abiding citizens. He said it won’t make it easier for criminals to obtain gun permits by changing state or federal laws.

“They do what they want. They break laws, unfortunately. That’s what they do,” Tomes said. “We are talking about people who have never been a threat to society and will never be a threat to society.”

Vince Zito is a staff writer for the Indiana Daily Student, where this article originally appeared. He is a contributor to the Student Free Press Association.

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