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Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Ind. Gov't. - "Guns OK on city property – but not state"

This item from the Sunday FWJG Political Notebook column by Niki Kelly and Benjamin Lanka:

Legislators this year passed a law essentially gutting all local government rules and regulations regarding firearms.

Lawmakers said they acted to make sure Hoosiers with proper gun-carry permits could take their handguns into municipal or government-owned buildings and properties such as libraries, parks or city halls.

But that law didn’t help a handful of Hoosiers who attended a Statehouse protest last week over an Indiana Supreme Court ruling.

The peaceful rally of more than 200 was on the south lawn on a bright, sunny day. People carried flags and signs and even brought chairs and coolers.

But those carrying weapons were quietly escorted to the sidewalk by Indiana State Police officers.

That’s because a weapons ban for state government buildings also extends to the lawn, police told the citizens – all of whom showed proper permits to carry their handguns. The state ban is based on a rule passed by the Indiana Department of Administration.

Some of the men wore the handguns openly on their hips in holsters while others had shirts covering bulges. Back at the sidewalk, they couldn’t hear the speakers and couldn’t participate in the protest.

Eric Barnes of Indianapolis said it wasn’t all that unexpected that police would ask him to step off state property with his handgun – a Colt .45-caliber pistol. But he is a proponent of openly carrying weapons and wanted to attend the rally.

“I think it’s my Second Amendment right to be here,” Barnes said. “I hope that more of us open-carry people would be here next time.”

[Rep. Mike Speedy, R-Indianapolis], the House sponsor of the law allowing guns on municipal property attended the rally and said the legislation was aimed at local regulations, not state policies.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on May 31, 2011 01:50 PM
Posted to Indiana Government