Sen. Tomes has introduced SB 292 which would prohibit local government from regulating any matter pertaining to firearms, ammunition, and firearm accessories.
Among other things, the statute prohibits local governments from regulating possession of firearms. As I read it, the statute would, for example, void a local ordinance that prohibits carrying firearms into the courthouse. Unless there is a state law against it, I also don’t see how a county could prohibit someone from taking a gun into the county jail.
I trust my local officials to be better equipped to assess whether local conditions make firearms regulations appropriate or not in that locale; just like I think the appropriate gun laws for rural New Hampshire might be different from those appropriate for Indianapolis.
Particularly interesting in light of current events.
“I trust my local officials to be better equipped to assess whether local conditions make firearms regulations appropriate or not in that locale; just like I think the appropriate gun laws for rural New Hampshire might be different from those appropriate for Indianapolis.”
First, this bill is about Indiana and Indiana only; I have no idea why NH is even mentioned. Second, while local officials should have the ability to tweak some local laws to their particular locale- in general they should not trump state law. If local officials wanted to lower the drinking age to 17, do you think they should be allowed to do so? Of course not, the same holds true for gun laws.
In Indiana a gun permit holder can carry a gun in a national park, national forest, a state park, and a state forest, but they cannot carry a gun in all local parks (some local parks allow it). The problem for gun owners is two-fold. On one side you have a patchwork of laws that are not clear and on the other side the severity of punishment for breaking those laws- which is usually a felony or having your permit taken away. If the punishment was not severe perhaps this wouldn’t be an issue.
What this law seems to do is force uniformity of rules and regulations for carrying a gun statewide. No matter what government facility (baring jails, courts, etc) statewide local or not you will be able to carry your gun without fear of gotcha gun laws.
I live in bloomington and would not trust my local government with sharp objects…
Has anybody seen some of the “security” at Lucas Oil Stadium? Some of those folks who are supposed to keep us safe look like they couldn’t keep theirselves safe. And I am supposed to trust them with my safety? Pass the SB292.