The Senate Judiciary Committee heard HB 1071, sponsored by Sen. Messmer and Sen. Freeman, on authorization to carry a handgun. The bill provides that certain persons protected by a civil protection order may carry a handgun without a license for 60 days after the date the civil protection order is issued or 60 days after the date the person applies for a license to carry a handgun, if the person applies for the license during the 60-day period following issuance of the civil protection order; whichever is later. The bill also urges the legislative council to assign to the appropriate study committee the task to study the repeal of the law the requires a person to obtain a license to carry a handgun in Indiana.
The bill was amended by consent to send all issues to a summer study committee. Testimony in favor of the bill was presented by the National Rifle Association and several private citizens. Testimony in opposition to the bill was presented by Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Chesterfield Chief of Police. The amended bill passed of 9-0.
Read the bill at http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2017/bills/house/1071.