Like many other states, Indiana recently enacted “constitutional carry” of handguns. This law expands peoples’ access to handguns in public spaces and reduces the time it takes to purchase a pistol or revolver. Some people believe that all adult Indiana residents now have an unrestricted right to carry handguns in the state. On the contrary, the state constitutional carry law has many limitations.
Indiana’s law, which took effect July 1, 2022, does away with the requirement of a permit to carry a handgun. However, this does not mean that everyone who wants a firearm can legally own or possess one. A key provision of the constitutional carry law states that a person “not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm” may carry a handgun without a permit. Many people are prohibited from carrying a handgun under both state and federal law. These include:
Those found in possession of a handgun in violation of state or federal prohibitions may be arrested and prosecuted.
The constitutional carry provision did not change the laws prohibiting firearms in certain locations. There are still many places in which firearms are restricted to law enforcement officers and special designees. These places include:
Despite having constitutional carry, Indiana still maintains a handgun license program. Gun owners should consider getting and maintaining a state license. Indiana has reciprocity with many other states with respect to carrying handguns. This means that an Indiana license holder may carry firearms in a reciprocal state, subject to that state’s firearms laws. However, state reciprocity laws do not apply to constitutional carry. Therefore, not having a license makes transporting and carrying firearms in many other states more difficult or even illegal. To protect yourself, consult with a criminal lawyer who is knowledgeable about the gun laws of Indiana and neighboring states.
Another reason to have a gun carry license is safety. Honest people sometimes have unexpected contact with law enforcement. A person lawfully carrying a gun may be stopped for a traffic infraction or be a witness to a crime. Officers can be justifiably anxious when encountering an unknown armed individual. When interacting with law enforcement while armed, the best practice is to show the officer the license. Identifying oneself as a license holder lets the officer know that the armed individual is unlikely to be a threat.
Based in Merrillville, the Law Office of Weiss, Schmidgall and Hires is a highly respected criminal defense firm in the Northwest Indiana region. If you have an issue involving firearms or any other criminal matter, feel free to contact us online or call 219-293-8988 for an initial consultation.