Simone Lawson
On March 8, 2022, the Indiana Senate voted to pass Constitutional Carry legislation, which allows qualified candidates to carry a handgun without a license. The bill had been in the works since at least 2016 and faced several setbacks, including opposition from police officers and associations, who argued that it would make their jobs more challenging and dangerous. The bill passed with a vote of 69 to 30, and Governor Holcomb is not required to sign or veto it.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of vote | 8 March 2022 |
| Bill name | HB 1296 |
| Vote count | 69-30 |
| Previous attempts | 2021 |
| Previous vote count | 64-31 |
| Previous outcome | Killed in the Senate Judiciary Committee |
| Supporters | Indiana Second Amendment activists, Senate Republican leadership |
| Opponents | Police officers from several departments and associations, Senate Republican leadership |
| Current Indiana law | Requires a license to carry a loaded handgun outside one's home, business, or car |
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What You'll Learn
- Indiana Senate voted on Constitutional Carry on March 8, 2022
- The bill passed 69-30, but may be vetoed by Governor Holcomb
- The bill removes the need for a license to carry a handgun
- The bill's passage was supported by Indiana Second Amendment activists
- The bill was opposed by police, who say it will make their jobs more difficult
Indiana Senate voted on Constitutional Carry on March 8, 2022
On March 8, 2022, the Indiana legislature voted to pass the Constitutional Carry legislation. The vote took place on the last day of the session, three hours before the session ended for the year. The bill, HB 1296, was passed by a vote of 69 to 30.
The road to passing the bill was not straightforward. In 2021, a similar bill had passed the House 64 to 31, but it was killed in the Senate Judiciary Committee. In 2022, Senator Brown worked hard to kill the new bill and came very close to succeeding. The Republican leadership in the Senate used legislative procedures to bring the bill to a vote in spite of Senator Brown's efforts. The bill was brought to the rules committee after the debacle of the Judiciary Committee hearing chaired by Brown. The rules committee decided it was too late in the session for anything to be done. Then, the bill language was substituted for another bill which had already passed the Senate. This procedure is sometimes used to work around a committee chair who blocks a popular bill.
The bill faced opposition from police officers from several departments and associations. They argued that the bill would make it more challenging for police to make routine traffic stops because there would be no single database to check whether someone is allowed to carry a handgun. Supporters of the bill argued that Hoosiers shouldn't have to ask permission or go through potential delays to get a permit to exercise their constitutional right.
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The bill passed 69-30, but may be vetoed by Governor Holcomb
On March 8, 2022, the Indiana legislature voted to pass the Constitutional Carry bill, 69-30, on the last day of the session. The bill, which would eliminate the requirement for a license to carry a handgun, has been the subject of much debate, with supporters arguing that Hoosiers should not have to ask permission to exercise their constitutional right, while opponents, including police officers and associations, argue that it would make it more challenging and dangerous for police to carry out their duties.
The bill now faces the possibility of a veto by Governor Holcomb. While it is unclear whether he will veto the bill, there are several factors to consider. Firstly, Indiana limits the power of the governor's veto more than most other states, and the Indiana legislature overrode Governor Holcomb's vetoes three times in 2021. Secondly, a veto could have political consequences for Governor Holcomb, potentially ending his career in the Republican Party in Indiana. If he signs the bill, he may face backlash from certain voters and the dominant media in Indiana, who may label him as "radical" or "paid for by the NRA".
Governor Holcomb has previously signed a bill related to gun laws in 2019, which made it easier to obtain a permit by removing the costs associated with short-term permits. However, the current Constitutional Carry bill goes further by eliminating the permit requirement entirely. It is worth noting that the bill would not have passed without the assistance of the Senate Republican leadership, and there have been rumors that Senator Brown, who worked hard to kill the bill, was working with Governor Holcomb to oppose it.
If Governor Holcomb chooses to veto the bill, a majority vote in both chambers is necessary to override the veto. The legislature has until the end of the next legislative session to override the veto or they can call a special session to do so earlier. The future of the Constitutional Carry bill in Indiana remains uncertain as it awaits Governor Holcomb's decision and potential further legislative action.
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The bill removes the need for a license to carry a handgun
Indiana has some of the most lenient firearms laws in the country. However, until recently, the state required individuals to obtain a license to carry a loaded handgun outside their homes, businesses, and cars. On March 8, 2022, the Indiana legislature voted to pass Constitutional Carry legislation, which removes the need for a license to carry a handgun. The bill passed with a vote of 69 to 30.
The journey to passing this bill was not without obstacles. In 2021, 21 of 39 Indiana senators voted to kill the bill. The Republican senators met in caucus and used a secret vote to kill the bill, preventing it from being debated or voted on in the Judiciary Committee. However, in 2022, the bill gained momentum, with eight Indiana senators signing up as sponsors for HB 1077. The bill faced another setback when a Senate committee stripped it from the bill in a committee meeting. Despite this, the Senate's top Republican, Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray, expressed commitment to passing the bill.
Supporters of the bill argue that Hoosiers should not have to ask for permission or go through delays to obtain a permit to exercise their constitutional right to carry a handgun. On the other hand, opponents of the bill, including police officers from several departments and associations, argue that eliminating the permit system will make it more challenging for police to make routine traffic stops. They contend that there is currently no single database for officers to determine whether someone is allowed to carry a handgun without a permit requirement.
The bill now awaits Governor Holcomb's signature to become law. Governor Holcomb has the option to sign the bill, take no action, or veto it. If he chooses to veto the bill, a majority vote in both chambers is required to override the veto. While there is speculation about the potential consequences for Governor Holcomb's career in the Republican party if he signs or vetoes the bill, it is unclear what action he will take.
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The bill's passage was supported by Indiana Second Amendment activists
Indiana Second Amendment activists have been working for years to pass the "constitutional carry" legislation. The bill removes the requirement to obtain a license to carry a loaded handgun outside one's own homes, businesses, and cars. In 2021, a similar bill passed the House 64-31 but was killed in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The bill has been supported by Indiana Republicans, who have pushed social issues in the legislature as a heavily contested primary neared. Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray, a Republican, said he expected a Senate committee to advance the bill loosening Indiana's already lenient firearms restrictions. The bill is also very popular with the Republican base constituency.
Supporters of the bill argue that Hoosiers shouldn't have to ask permission and go through potential delays to get a permit to exercise a constitutional right. However, opponents of the bill, including police officers from several departments and associations, argue that eliminating the permit system would strip police of a screening tool for identifying dangerous people who shouldn't have access to guns. It would also make it more challenging for police to make routine traffic stops because there wouldn't be a single database to check if someone is allowed to carry a handgun.
The bill's passage faced setbacks due to opposition from some Republican senators and Governor Holcomb, who may veto the bill. However, Indiana limits the power of the governor's veto more than most other states, and the legislature can override the veto with a majority vote in both chambers.
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The bill was opposed by police, who say it will make their jobs more difficult
The bill to eliminate the license to carry handguns in Indiana, also known as the "constitutional carry" bill, has faced opposition from police officers and departments across the state. They argue that the bill would make their jobs more difficult by removing a critical screening tool for identifying individuals who should not have access to firearms.
Currently, Indiana requires individuals to obtain a license to carry a loaded handgun outside their homes, businesses, or vehicles. The "constitutional carry" bill seeks to eliminate this requirement, allowing individuals to carry handguns without a permit. While supporters of the bill argue that Hoosiers should not have to seek permission to exercise their constitutional right to bear arms, police officers and associations have raised concerns about the potential impact on their ability to conduct routine tasks such as traffic stops.
Police officers in Indiana have expressed their opposition to the "constitutional carry" bill, stating that it would make their jobs more challenging. They argue that without a permit requirement, there is no single database or screening tool that officers can use to quickly determine whether an individual is allowed to carry a handgun. This could create difficulties for officers during routine interactions with the public, such as traffic stops, and potentially impact their ability to ensure the safety of both the officers and the community.
During the debate on the bill, ISP Superintendent Douglas Carter, a Gov. Eric Holcomb appointee, offered a strong rebuke of the Republican supermajority supporting the bill. Carter, a Republican himself, highlighted the complexity of the issue and expressed his disappointment with the lack of consideration for the perspectives of law enforcement professionals. He emphasized the potential frontline effects of the legislation and urged lawmakers to defer to the expertise of those directly involved in public safety.
The opposition from police departments and associations in Indiana underscores the concerns about the potential impact of the "constitutional carry" bill on public safety and law enforcement operations. While supporters of the bill emphasize the removal of delays and restrictions on constitutional rights, police officers argue that the bill could create challenges and uncertainties in their daily duties, making it more difficult to effectively protect the communities they serve.
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Frequently asked questions
On March 8, 2022, the Indiana legislature voted to pass the constitutional carry bill.
The constitutional carry bill eliminates the requirement for a license to carry a handgun in Indiana.
Supporters of the bill argue that Hoosiers should not have to ask for permission or go through delays to get a permit to exercise their constitutional right.
Opponents of the bill, including police officers from several departments, argue that eliminating the permit system would make it challenging for police to make routine traffic stops as there is no single database to check if someone is allowed to carry a handgun.
