On April 8th, the Indiana state Senate voted 42-7 to pass House Bill 1284 and on April 2nd, the state House of Representatives voted 75-21 to pass Senate Bill 119. Because of the modifications made to these bills during the process, both bills will now be headed to conference committees for further action.
House Bill 1284, authored by Representative Jim Lucas (R-69), would provide immunity for a justified use of force in certain instances to help prevent frivolous lawsuits. Victims of violent crime shouldn’t be subjected to unnecessary civil suits, therefore being victimized twice. This bill would also require a court to award, in certain instances, reasonable attorney's fees if it determines a suit was brought unjustly, helping to prevent financial ruin for individuals protecting themselves and others.
Senate Bill 119, authored by Senator Jim Tomes (R-49), was amended to include language with important self-defense concepts that were originally in House Bill 1643, which failed to advance from the House prior to the crossover deadline. The amended legislation keeps the original intent of SB 119, which is to make an important technical correction dealing with the transfer of certain firearms in Indiana. These concepts include extending four-year Licenses to Carry a Handgun (LTCH) to five years, eliminating fees for the new five-year LTCH, and clarifying the authority of private property owners to establish carry policies in places of worship. Removing barriers for lawful carry in Indiana, to include taxes and fees, is significant for many Hoosier gun owners that desire to carry for the defense of themselves and others.
Please stay tuned to www.nraila.org and your email inbox for further updates on these bills and other issues affecting our Second Amendment rights in Indiana.
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