Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) signed House Bill 1296 earlier this month, making the Hoosier State the 24th constitutional carry state in the nation.
HB 1296 allows the citizens of Indiana to possess or carry a handgun without a license or permit from the state. The law would nullify other efforts requiring a person to obtain a permit to carry a handgun and attribute theft of a firearm to a level five felony.
The law will take effect in July.
The NRA-ILA applauded the passage of the NRA-backed legislation saying, “The government should not mandate that law-abiding citizens get permission before exercising their fundamental, constitutional right to self defense.”
“We thank Gov. Holcomb, bill author Rep. Ben Smaltz, legislative leaders, and every lawmaker who supported this landmark legislation,” Jason Ouimet, executive director of NRA-ILA, said.
Indiana’s commitment to ensuring constitutional carry in the state comes after Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) signed legislation eliminating the need for individuals to require a license or permit to carry a handgun earlier this month.
Ivey announced the signing of HB 272 on Twitter: “I just signed House Bill 272, known as the constitutional carry bill, into law, defending law abiding Alabamians’ Second Amendment rights.”
Both Indiana and Alabama join the multitude of states allowing law-abiding citizens to carry a concealed handgun without the need for a government-issued permit.