The majority of the Indiana House Democratic Caucus and area officials are calling for Gov. Eric Holcomb to veto the permitless carry bill that the legislature passed shortly before the 2022 session ended last week.
Republican lawmakers pushed through a bill that would repeal Indiana’s requirement for a permit to carry a handgun in public, further loosening the state’s firearms laws despite public opposition from the state police superintendent and some major law enforcement organizations.
The bill’s provisions would allow anyone age 18 or older to carry a handgun in public except for reasons such as having a felony conviction, facing a restraining order from a court or having a dangerous mental illness. Supporters argue the permit requirement undermines Second Amendment protections by forcing law-abiding citizens to undergo police background checks that can take weeks.
The House and Senate approved the repeal as Republican lawmakers revived it after conflict among GOP senators had temporarily sidelined the issue.
Senators approved the bill 30-20 after House members earlier voted 68-30 largely along party lines in what was among the final issues taken up as the Republican-dominated legislature neared adjournment of this year’s session.
Once the measure arrives at Holcomb’s desk, he will have seven days to sign or veto it — or it would then become law without his signature.
The Republican governor hasn’t said whether he supports the concept of not requiring handgun permits, saying last week he would give the bill “careful thought.”
On Monday, the majority of the Indiana House Democratic Caucus sent a letter to Holcomb requesting him to veto the bill, “which would recklessly remove the permitting requirement to carry a handgun in public.”
“The current permitting process is open and accessible to Hoosiers and provides an important tool for law enforcement to carry out their duties safely,” according to the letter, signed by 27 of the 29 Democratic House members.
Without needing a permit, “thousands of potentially dangerous individuals” will likely carry guns in public and police officers won’t be able to check if someone is carrying a handgun legally, according to the letter.
Permitless carry legislation has had negative impacts in other states. In Missouri and Arizona, there has been a “statistically significant increase in firearm-related crimes” since such legislation passed, according to the letter.
“The General Assembly declined to show deference and respect for our law enforcement professionals. We ask that you listen to and stand with the many law enforcement professionals, including (Indiana State Police) Superintendent Douglas Carter, and veto this bill,” according to the letter.
In a statement, Indiana House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta, D-Fort Wayne, said if the legislation was signed into law it “would only exacerbate gun violence in Indiana.”
“Numerous law enforcement agencies … opposed the legislation because unvetted concealed carry puts Hoosier law enforcement professionals at greater risk. When the permitless carry concept was in the House, Democrats opposed the legislation and worked to amend it with common sense safety measures to address the gun violence and suicides plaguing communities across our state,” GiaQuinta said.
Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter said in a statement that repealing Indiana’s requirement for a permit to carry a handgun in public “threatens public safety.”
Carter said he joins the state’s fraternal order of police, police chief’s association, state police superintendent, the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council and others in opposing the bill, and he requests that the Governor also oppose the bill.
“This bill impedes public safety,” Carter said. “It puts our law enforcement in danger and threatens the entire fabric of our community by putting other person’s lives in danger, as well. It is crucial Governor Holcomb veto this bill.”
The Associated Press contributed.
