(NETWORK IN) Constitutional carry is being discussed at the State House, months before the next legislative session starts in January. Constitutional carry refers to your right to carry a gun without having to have a permit, which some lawmakers believe should happen in Indiana.
Members of the state police chiefs association and the Indiana State Police Alliance testified before a hearing yesterday, in favor of keeping the current system, which they argue gives police the chance to vet people who want to own a gun.
Guy Relford, gun rights attorney and host of The Gun Guy on 93 WIBC, testified at Tuesday’s hearing.
“Constitutional carry would do away with a requirement to have a state-issued license to carry a handgun if you are otherwise legally able to possess a firearm,” he said on Saturday’s show, talking about the hearing. “Felons, for instance, are currently prohibited from possessing a gun. Felons will be prohibited from possesing a gun after Constitutional carry passes, if it does.”
Relford said the same applies to people who might be in a domestic situation where there is a protective order against them.
“Today was the first day committee members came together to discuss constitutional carry in a study session at the Indiana Statehouse. Due to abundant misinformation, the public may not be fully aware of the positive effects constitutional carry would bring to Indiana,” said state Rep. Jim Lucas.
“The only Hoosiers who would be affected by this potential change would be the law-abiding citizens who would no longer have to be fingerprinted, fill out lengthy forms and pay the state a fee in order to exercise a constitutional right. Under constitutional carry, individuals who are currently prohibited from carrying a handgun would still legally not be allowed to do so. I am looking forward to continuing conversations about this issue and focusing on the facts.”
The next meeting on Constitutional carry is scheduled for Sept. 7.
