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Ending Indiana gun permits could cost police $3.5 million

INDIANAPOLIS (AP): Indiana legislators would face coming up with $3.5 million a year for local police agencies if they repeal the state law requiring a permit to carry a handgun in public.

An Indiana House committee heard testimony Wednesday on a bill that would allow any resident to carry a handgun unless for reasons including previous felony convictions, being under a restraining order, or having dangerous mental illnesses.

Supporters of the bill argue that requiring gun permits undermine Second Amendment protections and that violent criminals don’t obey the law. Bill sponsor Republican Rep. Ben Smaltz of Auburn said he expected the Legislature would dedicate the $3.5-million in permit application fees that police and sheriff departments now collect and spend on equipment and training.

Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter and leaders of the state police chiefs association and Indiana Fraternal Order of Police spoke against the proposal, saying it would eliminate a valuable screening tool identifying those who shouldn’t possess handguns.

Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb was noncommittal when asked Wednesday about the proposal that has failed during previous years in the Legislature.

“I’ll be watching it and paying close attention to what does or does not come to my desk and I’ll be very clear when I start to see the bill’s language become a bit clearer as well,” Holcomb said.

The committee could vote next week on whether to advance the proposal to the full House.

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4 comments

LOS February 11, 2021 at 8:36 am

State police, Doug Carter is a liar. Legislation does not say anything about not screening for gun purchase’s. They are pushing for no permits to carry a firearm. There would still be background checks to buy a gun. His blatant lie is proof the money goes in their pocket

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LOS February 11, 2021 at 8:44 am

State police Doug Carter is a liar. Legislation is not saying there won’t be background checks to buy firearm. They are saying gun permits violate the constitution. His blatant lie is proof the $$$ goes in their pockets.

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Pat February 11, 2021 at 11:39 am

so what? appropriate the money from somewhere else, for example, deduct it from all state employee salaries, especially the legislators and the governor —- would be a good idea to do away with marriage licenses, too, which are an invasion of privacy and just another way for government to get money

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Rocky February 12, 2021 at 3:59 pm

It seems easy to guess at what Holcomb’s decision would be if the Bill lands on his desk….for the last year, Holcomb has been in a state of euphoria with his new-found power…being able to tell all the sheep what to do next in each of your lives. And since we have a winner-take-all election (not a 1,2,3 choice) we can’t vote him out for fear of accidentally voting in a Communist (Democrat), also providing a false approval to his new-found power.

Of course, he would never admit he has overstepped his authority the last year. He will indirectly call all of you sheep -stupid, by falsely claiming he is saving you by imposing “orders” directing all of your lives because all of you sheep are not smart enough to make decisions for yourself. All you sheep “voted” for him to which he should serve…not the other way around.

Acknowledging a freedom the sheep should already have without State involvement, would be considered out of character for such a power hungry individual.

We need pro-freedom (constitution) Representatives, not pro-big (authoritarian) government.

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