Indiana House Bill 1077, dubbed the “Constitutional Carry” bill, passed out of the Indiana Senate Judiciary Committee late on February 23rd setting up a potential Senate vote before the end of the legislative session.
The bill would allow any Indiana citizen over 18 years of age to carry a gun without a permit in most cases. The law does have exceptions carved out for convicted felons and those with severe mental illness.
The debate in the Indiana Senate Judiciary Committee was heated and lasted for many hours, lasting deep into the evening. Many amendments to the bill were considered and either tabled or outright defeated. The bill passed the Indiana House back in January.
Critics of the bill feel strongly that there should be a vetting process. “We will have people walking on our street never vetted by law enforcement, never receiving a background check with loaded firearms around our children,” said Jennifer Haan of Moms Demand Action in Indiana last month.
Meanwhile, supporters argue that the permit process undermines the citizens Second Amendment rights by forcing them to submit to a police background check.
Should the bill pass the Senate and be signed into law by Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb (R) Indiana would join the 21 other states that allow its citizens the right to carry without a permit.
