Indiana: NRA-Backed Bills Continue to Move Forward

Today saw progress on two NRA-backed bills currently moving through the Indiana General Assembly.

The Indiana House of Representatives approved Senate Bill 315 on its third and final reading by an overwhelming bi-partisan 76 to 19 vote.  SB 315, authored by state Senator Randy Head (R-18) and sponsored by state Representative Mark Messmer (R-63), would streamline the licensing and reporting process for charity gaming events, such as “Friends of NRA” banquets. Due to a technical amendment made in the House Public Policy Committee, SB 315 now returns to the Senate for concurrence.

As previously reported here, the policy changes contained in SB 315 would greatly improve the ability of “Friends of NRA” committees to comply with Indiana charitable gaming laws in a timely and less cumbersome fashion, while protecting the personal information of “Friends of NRA” volunteers.

Due to a House committee hearing cancellation, Senate Bill 243, previously reported on here, would not have survived this week’s committee report deadline had it not been added as an amendment to House Bill 1279, authored by state Representative Sean Eberhart (R-57) and sponsored by state Senator Ryan Mishler (R-9). This amendment was offered by state Senator Travis Holdman (R-19), and the Indiana Senate voted today on second reading to add (as is) language from SB 243 into the Natural Resources Omnibus bill, HB 1279.

This language from SB 243 would allow Hoosiers to use lawfully-possessed suppressors (also referred to as silencers) on firearms for hunting.  Currently, Indiana law permits use of suppressors for all shooting activities except for the taking of game.  Enactment of this language would ensure that hunting is treated the same way as other shooting activities with respect to the use of suppressors, and allow hunters to reap the many benefits suppressor use provides.  For more information on silencers, please click here.  

The NRA thanks Representative Sean Eberhart and Senators Ryan Mishler and Travis Holdman for their work to protect language legalizing the use of suppressors while hunting.