Indiana: House to Vote on Pro-Hunting Legislation Tomorrow

Contact your state Representative TODAY in support of House Bill 1563

Tomorrow, the Indiana House of Representatives is likely to vote on House Bill 1563.  Last week, HB 1563 was reported unanimously by the House Natural Resources Committee.  It is time for you to contact your state Representative and respectfully urge him or her to vote in favor of HB 1563.

HB 1563, sponsored by state Representative Sean Eberhart (R-57), includes important pro-hunting reform language that is fully supported by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.  If passed and enacted into law, HB 1563 would allow hunters in Indiana to use lawfully-possessed suppressors (also referred to as silencers) on firearms while hunting.  While suppressors do not eliminate the sound of a firearm, they do reduce the muzzle report in a manner similar to the way that a muffler reduces exhaust noise from a vehicle.  

Please contact your state Representative TODAY and urge him or her to support House Bill 1563.  For help identifying your state Representative and their contact information, please click here.

Currently, more than half of the states allow hunters to use suppressors while hunting.  There are numerous benefits to hunting with suppressed firearms, including:

• Increased use of suppressors will help to eliminate noise complaints that are frequently an excuse to close hunting lands throughout the country.  This will protect hunting areas well into the future.
• Using a suppressor while hunting will reduce recoil and muzzle rise to help increase the accuracy of hunters.  More accurate shooting in the field means fewer wounded and lost animals--a good thing for hunters and wildlife.
• Suppressors reduce the muzzle report to hearing safe levels, reducing the chance that the hunter or anyone with the hunter will suffer permanent hearing loss if they fail to use hearing protection. 

Recently, Arizona, Oklahoma and Texas adopted new rules allowing for the use of suppressors when hunting game.  It’s time that hunters in Indiana are able to enjoy the same opportunities available to sportsmen in more than half of the country.  For more information on hunting with suppressors, click here.

Again, please contact your state Representative today and urge him or her to support House Bill 1563.

While HB 1563 has passed in committee and will be considered on the House floor, no action has been taken on House Bill 1473.  Sponsored by state Representative Jim Lucas (R-69), HB 1473 would allow a person who legally possesses a firearm to keep that firearm stored in a locked trunk of their vehicle, a glove box, or stored out of plain sight in the vehicle while on school property.  This would allow parents to park on school property for a meeting with a teacher or principal to do so without the fear of breaking the law.

HB 1473 was referred to the House Committee on Public Policy, but has yet to be scheduled for a hearing.  Action must be taken soon for this bill to be able to pass during the 2013 Regular Session.  Please contact state Representative Bill Davis (R-33), Chairman of the House Committee on Public Policy, TODAY and ask that he place HB 1473 on the calendar for a committee hearing.  Chairman Davis can be contacted by phone at (317) 234-3827 and by email form here.