INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- An Indiana House committee has advanced legislation that would allow Indiana residents, with some exceptions, to carry guns in public without a state-issued license.
Republican State Representative Ben Smaltz said law-abiding citizens shouldn’t have jump through hoops – being finger-printed and waiting for a permit.
"They shouldn't have to wait 30, 60, 90 days to get a permit," he told WANE-TV. "The criminals don't have to do that. We should not bind lawful people to those sort of steps."
A similar effort failed last year. The legislation faced opposition from Indiana State Police last year and they’re opposed again this time around.
Major Rob Simpson, deputy chief of staff, said without a handgun licensing system, officer safety is at risk because they have no way of knowing whether armed individuals they encounter are carrying a handgun in public legally, since there's no comprehensive database of individuals prohibited from carrying a handgun, the Northwest Indiana Times reports.
"We have a system, it works, and that's why we stand opposed to this particular bill," he said.
Exceptions in the proposed bill include convicted felons and those with a history of mental illness, among others.
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