The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard SB 383 sponsored by Rep. Steuerwald concerning air or gas operated weapons on school property. Sen Koch introduced the bill that amends existing statute to establish that a person who knowingly and intentionally points an air or gas operated weapon designed to expel a metal projectile at another person on school property or on a school bus commits a Class B misdemeanor.
Testimony in support of the bill was heard from the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council and the Indiana State Teachers Association. The Indiana Public Defender Council testified in opposition to the bill stating that this is a disciplinary issue not a criminal issue and that existing law already applies in these situations.
The bill was amended by consent to remove the word “metal” recognizing that projectiles do not have to be metal to be dangerous. The amended bill passed 9-2.
Read the bill at http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2019/bills/senate/383