Here is something worth remembering as we celebrate Memorial Day: The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that every 80 minutes a veteran takes his or her own life.In spite of the “Great Skedaddle” to Illinois by Democrats from the Indiana state legislature, all six firearm-friendly bills introduced in the 2011 session passed both the Senate and the House by large margins and were signed into law by Gov. Mitch Daniels. I believe all the laws become effective on July 1.
One of the common sense new laws changes some of the unsound requirements for possessing a license to carry a handgun. Currently, without the carry permit, a person may only legally transport a handgun from a dealer to home (or to a fixed place of business) or take a handgun to a place of repair and back, or transport a handgun to a new dwelling or fixed place of business. Any other transport of a handgun requires the license to carry.
Without the permit, a person may not take a handgun to a range to shoot, even if it is unloaded and stored in the trunk of a car. In fact, without the carry permit, it is illegal to take a handgun to show to a neighbor.
That will change, allowing handguns to be transported as long as they are unloaded, not readily accessible and secured in cases, without requiring the owners to possess handgun carry licenses.
Of course, the license to carry a handgun is still required to carry on one’s person or readily accessible in a motor vehicle, and only where it is legal to do so.
Another common sense gun law will prohibit local firearm regulation. Indiana state law will pre-empt all political subdivisions from enacting or enforcing regulations pertaining to firearms.
Currently, some cities have been allowed to enact and enforce their own firearm regulations and ordinances.
For example, in Speedway, it is illegal to carry a handgun concealed; it must be carried openly. Gary and East Chicago currently ban “assault weapons,” which, of course, explains why those cities have essentially eliminated violent gun crimes.
Such silly and useless ordinances will go away on July 1, and Indiana state law will apply everywhere in Indiana.
Legislators and Daniels are to be commended for enacting common sense firearms laws that truly serve the best interests of the people of Indiana, whether they be gun owners or not.
