Malcolm Rivera
On March 21, 2022, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signed House Bill 1296, allowing constitutional carry in Indiana and immediately eliminating the state's concealed carry permit requirement. With this, Indiana joined 21 other US states in permitting constitutional carry, despite intense opposition from law enforcement groups and gun safety activists.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the bill | "Constitutional Carry" |
| Bill Number | HEA 1296 |
| Date | March 21, 2022 |
| Signed by | Governor Eric Holcomb |
| Effect | Eliminates the license requirement to carry a handgun in Indiana |
| Opposition | State police head, Douglas Carter |
| Opposition Reason | Safety concerns |
| Supporters | Gun-rights supporters, Conservative groups |
| Supporters Reason | Second Amendment rights |
| Number of states without permit requirement | 21 |
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What You'll Learn
- Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signs the 'constitutional carry' bill
- The bill repeals the requirement for a permit to carry a handgun in public
- The bill faced intense opposition at the Statehouse
- Holcomb's signing of the bill went against the wishes of the head of state police
- Indiana joins 21 other states with similar laws and counting
Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signs the 'constitutional carry' bill
Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb has signed a bill that repeals the requirement to have a permit to carry a handgun in public in Indiana. The bill, HEA 1296, or the "constitutional carry" bill, was signed into law by Gov. Holcomb on Monday, just before his Tuesday deadline to act on the legislation.
The bill faced intense opposition at the Statehouse, including from the governor's own state police superintendent, who argued that eliminating the permit system would endanger officers by removing their ability to quickly identify individuals who should not have guns. However, despite these safety concerns, Gov. Holcomb issued the following statement in response to signing the bill:
> "The Second Amendment has been debated for years, yet time and again our U.S. Supreme Court has reaffirmed this important constitutional right that I fully support. Twenty-three other states have laws comparable to HEA 1296. Vermont has had a constitutional carry law in place since it became a state, and several other states have had a similar law for more than a decade. HEA 1296, which I've signed today, entrusts Hoosiers who can lawfully carry a handgun to responsibly do so within our state."
With the signing of this bill, Indiana became the third state to pass Constitutional Carry legislation in 2022, and one of 23 states overall to have similar laws in place.
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The bill repeals the requirement for a permit to carry a handgun in public
On a Monday in March 2022, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signed a bill into law that repealed the requirement for a permit to carry a handgun in public in Indiana. The bill, HEA 1296, faced intense opposition at the Statehouse, including from the state police head and superintendent. Holcomb's decision to sign the bill went against the vocal opposition of his own state police superintendent, who argued that eliminating the permit system would endanger officers by removing a tool for quickly identifying individuals who should not have access to guns.
Despite the opposition, Holcomb defended his decision, stating that HEA 1296 "entrusts Hoosiers who can lawfully carry a handgun to responsibly do so within our state." The bill's supporters, including gun-rights activists, refer to it as "constitutional carry" in reference to the Second Amendment.
Indiana is not the first state to enact such legislation; as of 2022, 21 other states had already passed similar bills, and as of 2020, 25 states had completely eliminated their concealed carry permit requirements between 2015 and 2023. However, critics argue that permitless carry laws lower the bar for who can carry hidden handguns in public and allow untrained and unvetted individuals to carry weapons in public spaces.
While the new law in Indiana removes the requirement for a permit to carry a handgun in public, permits will still be available to those who want them, including for individuals travelling to another state with reciprocity agreements. Carter, the state police superintendent, stated that law enforcement will continue to encourage citizens to apply for and maintain firearms permits.
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The bill faced intense opposition at the Statehouse
The head of the state police, Douglas Carter, who was appointed by Governor Holcomb himself, strongly opposed the bill, stating that lawmakers were pandering to lobbyists and engaging in political posturing. Carter's concerns were echoed by other law enforcement groups, who emphasised the importance of the permit system in ensuring officer safety and effective firearms enforcement.
In addition to law enforcement, gun safety activists also played a role in opposing the bill. Two prominent activists, Heather Hilbert and Becca McCracken, waited outside Governor Holcomb's office at the Indiana Statehouse in an attempt to meet with him and express their objections to the bill. Their efforts resulted in detention by Capitol Police, who charged them with criminal trespassing.
The bill also caused division within the Republican Party, with some members questioning the motivations behind it. Sen. Fady Qaddoura, D-Indianapolis, highlighted the disconnect between the bill and the reality of increasing violent crime in the nation. He stated, "It hurts to see us advancing a piece of legislation that supports spreading and allowing more guns to be on our streets when violent crime is going up in our nation."
Despite the intense opposition at the Statehouse, Governor Holcomb ultimately signed the bill into law, prioritising the Second Amendment rights of his constituents and the concept of "backing the blue."
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Holcomb's signing of the bill went against the wishes of the head of state police
Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signed the HEA 1296 bill into law in March 2022, repealing the requirement to have a permit or license to carry a handgun in public in Indiana. This move, known as "constitutional carry" or "permitless carry," faced intense opposition at the Statehouse, notably from the head of the state police, Douglas Carter.
Carter, the Holcomb-appointed superintendent of the Indiana State Police, expressed his opposition to the bill due to safety concerns. He argued that eliminating the permit system would endanger officers by stripping them of a crucial screening tool for quickly identifying individuals who are not allowed to carry firearms. This stance was shared by other law enforcement groups, who also criticized the bill.
Despite the vocal opposition, Holcomb proceeded with signing the bill, stating that it "entrusts Hoosiers who can lawfully carry a handgun to responsibly do so within our state." The bill's passage highlights the complex political dynamics surrounding gun legislation in Indiana and the United States more broadly.
In the aftermath of the bill's signing, Carter issued a statement reaffirming his commitment to working with Governor Holcomb and law enforcement leaders to address safety concerns. He emphasized the continued importance of encouraging citizens to apply for firearms permits, even if no longer required, as a means to assist law enforcement and enable reciprocity with other states.
The signing of the constitutional carry bill in Indiana reflects a broader push for similar legislation in other red states. As of 2022, Indiana became the 22nd state to pass such legislation, joining 21 other states that already allowed residents to carry handguns without a permit. The bill's impact on public safety and law enforcement operations in Indiana remains a subject of ongoing discussion and analysis.
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Indiana joins 21 other states with similar laws and counting
On March 21, 2022, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signed House Bill 1296, allowing constitutional carry in Indiana and immediately eliminating the state's concealed carry permit requirement. With the passing of the law, Indiana joined 21 other states with similar laws, including Ohio, which passed a similar bill the previous week.
The bill, also known as the "constitutional carry" bill, repeals the requirement to have a permit or license to carry a handgun in public in Indiana. It faced intense opposition at the Statehouse, including from the state police head, Douglas Carter, and other law enforcement groups, due to safety concerns. They argued that eliminating the permit system would endanger officers by stripping them of a tool for quickly identifying individuals who should not have guns.
However, supporters of the bill argue that Hoosiers shouldn't have to ask for permission to exercise their constitutional right to carry a handgun. The bill also addresses concerns about gun safety and theft, as it elevates the theft of a firearm to a Level 5 felony, with imprisonment of up to six years and a fine of up to $10,000.
Despite the opposition, Governor Holcomb signed the bill into law, stating that it entrusts Hoosiers who can lawfully carry a handgun to responsibly do so within our state. With this decision, Indiana joins a growing number of states that have enacted constitutional carry legislation, and it remains to be seen whether this trend will continue in other red states.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signed the constitutional carry bill into law on March 21, 2022.
The constitutional carry bill, also known as House Bill 1296, eliminates the requirement for a license to carry a handgun in Indiana.
The Indiana State House passed the bill by a vote of 68-30, and the State Senate passed it by a vote of 30-20.
The bill faced intense opposition at the Statehouse, including from the state police head and Democrats. However, it was supported by gun-rights activists and some Republicans.
The bill allows most Hoosiers 18 years and older to carry a handgun in public without a background check or permit. However, there are still restrictions on where guns can be carried, and permits are still available for those who want them, such as for travel to other states.
