Indiana: Pro-Gun and Pro-Hunting Bills Scheduled for Committee Hearings This Week

Tomorrow, January 22, at 9:00 a.m. in Room 130 of the Indiana Statehouse, the Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to consider Senate Bill 229, legislation which would prohibit taxpayer-funded gun “buyback” programs.

Sponsored by state Senator Jim Tomes, SB 229 would prohibit any unit of government or law enforcement agency from conducting a gun “buyback” program.  Additionally, SB 229 would require all city or town law enforcement agencies to return all seized firearms to the rightful owner within 120 days following final disposition of the cause.  If the lawful owner is not found or unable to take possession of the firearm, SB 229 would require law enforcement agencies to sell these firearms at a public auction to an individual that is lawfully eligible to receive a firearm or to a licensed firearms dealer.  Currently, Indiana law allows for seized guns to be immediately and wastefully destroyed.

Please contact members of the Senate Judiciary Committee TODAY and respectfully urge them to SUPPORT Senate Bill 229, and prevent the wasteful and expensive practice of destroying firearms that could be re-circulated through a lawful individual or a licensed dealer.  Contact information for committee members can be found here.

This Friday, January 24, the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee is scheduled to consider Senate Joint Resolution 9 which would guarantee Hoosiers the right to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife.  Sponsored by state Senator Brent Steele (R-44), SJR 9 would ensure the preservation of Indiana's rich hunting heritage.

By declaring this right, Indiana would keep the existing fishing and hunting structure in place while protecting future generations of sportsmen from attacks initiated by well-funded anti-hunting extremists.  Specifically, SJR 9 would promote wildlife conservation and management.  In addition, it specifies that hunting, fishing and harvesting of wildlife shall be used as a preferred means of managing and controlling wildlife.  This proposed constitutional amendment would ensure that sportsmen will continue to be used as Indiana’s responsible game managers instead of the taxpayer-funded sharpshooters and unproven expensive wildlife contraception schemes employed in other jurisdictions.

Please contact members of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and respectfully urge them to SUPPORT your right to hunt and fish by voting “YES” on SJR 9. Contact information for committee members can be found here.