INDIANAPOLIS — The “lawful carry” bill for handguns was approved by the Indiana House Public Policy Committee Wednesday at the Statehouse, moving to the full House possible as early as next week.
The vote on House Bill 1077 followed party lines, with nine Republicans voting in favor and all three Democrats voting against the measure.
HB 1077 specifies that certain persons who are not otherwise prohibited from carrying or possessing a handgun are not required to obtain or possess a license or permit from the state to carry a handgun in Indiana.
Last year’s bill passed the House by a vote of 65-31. However, the Senate failed to take action on the proposal before the 2021 session ended. Both versions were authored by Rep. Ben Smaltz, R-Auburn.
Rep. Jim Lucas, R-Seymour, said he’s been pushing for this type of legislation for almost a decade.
“This year’s version is a much more simplified version than what was introduced last session,” the Seymour lawmaker said. “I think last year’s bill was misunderstood quite a bit because there were some parts that tried to appease certain groups. But it just muddied up the waters a bit.”
For the complete story, see Friday’s Republic.
