Photo: Courtesy: Flickr, Gerry
The Senate has passed a bill allowing people to carry weapons on their property or someone else's property without a license.
Indiana residents may no longer need a license to carry a handgun. Under the bill passed by the Senate Thursday, people would now be able to carry handguns on their person without a license as long as they’re on their own property or on someone else’s property legally and have consent to carry the weapon. The bill’s sponsor, Wadesville Senator David Tomes explained the intent of the legislation:
“We allow individuals that have firearms, that have a handgun, that want to merely take those handguns to ranges and designated areas that the bill describes, that they can do so without a license,” said Tomes.
Opponents of the bill worry people will take this law too far, carrying loaded guns into public places. Columbus mayor Fred Armstrong, a former police officer, says bills like this can cause issues.
“There will be some potential problems,” said Armstrong. “It’s always a question when a police officer stops someone and anytime there’s a firearm, either legal or not, it can really, it can put the officer in a very precarious situation.”
Armstrong says the intent of the bill sounds fair, but there are some people who will always look for loopholes.
