Indiana Handgun Law

[kludge]

The issue in Indiana seems to be "transport" without a license, not "possession."

The law covers transport and "carry" (possession)

IC 35-47-2-1
Carrying a handgun without a license or by person convicted of domestic battery
Sec. 1. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) and section 2 of this chapter, a person shall not carry a handgun in any vehicle or on or about the person's body, except in the person's dwelling, on the person's property or fixed place of business, without a license issued under this chapter being in the person's possession.

IC 35-47-2-2
Excepted persons
Sec. 2. Section 1 of this chapter does not apply to:
<snip>
(11) any person while carrying a handgun unloaded and in a secure wrapper from the place of purchase to his dwelling or fixed place of business, or to a place of repair or back to his dwelling or fixed place of business, or in moving from one dwelling or business to another.

If you own two pieces of property you can't transport it from one piece of property to another. If you're from Illinois you CAN bring your gun to the range if you have a permit issued by any other state. BTW, IANAL.

The DNR publishes in their hunting guide every year, that if your from a state that does not issue permits, you can't hunt in Indiana with a handgun, but that is NOT what the law says. IANAL. It seems these police have the same interpretation regarding the shooting range. But that is not what the law says. Again, IANAL.

See post#14: That is what the law says. BTW, ElTejon is a lawyer.

As you can see in the section of the law I quoted, unless you are moving, there is no "peaceable journey" law in Indiana, which is rather strange for a "gun-friendly" state.

 

[El Tejon]

there is no "peaceable journey" law in Indiana, which is rather strange for a "gun-friendly" state.

No, it is not. It is consistent. Unless you are going to the gunsmith or other exempted place, GET THE LICENSE.

No matter what kind of journey you are taking--an incredible one, a fantastic voyage, wandering Indiana, getting your groove on, straight tripping, ramblin' on, truckin' on, going to the dentist--GET THE LICENSE.

Every single day I get calls about how to carry/transport guns without a license and it will go a little something like . . . this:

JIMMY JOE LEE SKEETER LONGSTREET LEE: "I want to go ashootin' at them thar cans wit meye fortee five. If my third cousin's dog carries the gun and Uncle Dad carries them thar clips so the gun is unloaded, do I have to go get me a license? Did I mention my Uncle Cousin is the Town Marshal of Wheatfield? Did you know in Texas you can just carry a gun around, I seen it on the tee vee?"

EL TEJON: "Get the license."

JIMMY JOE LEE SKEETER LONGSTREET LEE: "I can't afford it. I'm done broke, Mr. Tejon."

EL TEJON: "A box of .45acp is almost the cost of the license. Get the license. A license is the cost of the gasoline you will use going to the range. Get the license. Now, give me money."

 

[ProficientRifleman]

HoosierQ

As a citizen of Indiana, you have a right to carry a handgun, period. You need only obtain a license to do so.

This not meant as an insult, just an observation. The above sentences are oxymoronic.

A license is the opposite of a right. A "license" by definition, is special permission to do something (otherwise) illegal. A "right" requires no prior permission, nor is it subject to any prior restraint. If you have to beg permission FIRST, you are not exercising a right.

It is a sad state in our affairs of public discourse that we do not anymore know the difference.

 

[kludge]

EL TEJON: "A box of .45acp is almost the cost of the license. Get the license. A license is the cost of the gasoline you will use going to the range. Get the license. Now, give me money."

LOL !

 

[Top_Gunn]

Just a couple of other tidbits about carrying in Indiana:

1. You probably can't carry on church property, even if you have a permit, because most churches have educational programs for kids (pre-school, Sunday school), which makes all church property "school property" in Indiana, and it's a felony to carry on school property (couple of small exceptions). Same for any licensed day-care center. If you're just dropping off or picking up a kid there, it's legal to have a gun in your car. But if you get out of the car to hand the kid a book or some such, you're a felon.

2. Under federal law you can't have a gun within 1000 feet of a school. There are exceptions, one of which is for a gun you have a state permit to carry. But you can't get a state permit for a rifle or shotgun in Indiana (because you don't need one), so it's a federal crime to drive past a school in Indiana with a rifle or shotgun in your car unless it's both unloaded and in a locked case. This makes no sense, as it's perfectly legal to drive past a school with a loaded pistol for which you have a permit. But there's no rule that says laws have to make sense.

Yes, the law is "a ass, a idiot." But they can get you for it. Sneaky, huh? And we're a "gun-friendly" state.

 

[cherryriver]

Well, since this is grinding on, and Counselor El Tejon is checking in, I'd like to pose yet another Illinois resident/Indiana visitor question.
We are indeed on the Prairie State side ("Move to America!" our Hoosier friends howl) and spend lots of time in the northwest counties of Indiana.
In fact, we belong to a a private shooting club and I am to a small degree a club official, you could say.
We have hopes of moving there someday, if the stars align properly, but it's not happening yet.
Still, most weekends we head to NWI, and frequent the club. I already have the permit (Florida, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Virginia), but I'd sure like to get an Indiana non-resident permit.
Since neither of our businesses do much yet in Indiana, and so don't make it inside the qualification for the non-resident license, is there any experience out there with getting non-res licenses, and would the membership and participation in the official business of the club make it over the line and thereby qualify?
Is there any experience with what level of work makes the line?
Just thinking , here. I always feel a loyalty to Indiana and actually don't mind supporting it.
This does not refer to Lake County, of course.