Senate Bill 285

Authored by Fady Qaddoura “Again, our Republican super-majority has failed to provide this important legislation with a hearing which is typical of firearm bills that would enhance public safety” (2/26/2021) DIGEST: Storage of firearms. Prohibits a person from keeping or storing a firearm on any premises controlled by the person if one or more of the following conditions apply: (1) The …

Senate Bill 173

Authored by Sen. Lonnie Randolph “Our Republican super-majority has failed to provide this important legislation with a hearing which is typical of firearm bills that would enhance public safety” (2/26/2021) DIGEST:  Prohibition of firearms at polling places. Prohibits a person from carrying a firearm in, on, or near: (1) a chute; (2) polls; (3) areas where voters congregate or are likely …

House Bill 1369

Authored by Rep Ben Smaltz, Republican  Co-Authored by Republicans Matt Lehman, Timothy Wesco and Jim Lucas      Sponsored by Republicans, Erin Houchin, Mark Messmer, Eric Koch, Aaron Freeman, and  Chris Gartin “This bill passed by the house on 2/22/2021 with all Republican Committee members in favor and Democratic members opposed. The elimination of a license which requires a background check to carry firearms on …

Nationwide Violence & Local Responses

Gun violence prevention advocates across the nation struggle to understand the increased gun violence that we are experiencing and what to do about it.  Media reports assure us that what we see locally is not unique to Indiana, as cities nationwide share contributors to violence. Long familiar issues compounded by COVID-19 get most of the blame: people out of work, …

Gun Violence in Indiana as a Public Health Issue

by Dr. Steven Dunlop According to the Indiana Department of Health there were 251 firearm homicides in Indiana in 2012, the most recent year for which data is available.  Homicide in Indiana is mostly an urban problem, four urban counties with 1/3 of the population account for 2/3rds of the homicides. Homicide impacts the black community most heavily, which experienced …

February 23, 2020 – To the Indianapolis Star Editor

“Gun Violence in the Crosshairs”, Indianapolis Star February 20, reported the city’s efforts to decrease gun violence. Their strategy is to place primary focus on guns that are illegally possessed and on those who carry them, including adding four police detectives, one sergeant and additional staff to the Gun Crime Intelligence Center.We applaud community interventions such as the Voice program described in …

January 27, 2020 – To the Indianapolis Star Editor

Two bills before the Indiana General Assembly are not scheduled for committee hearings even though they address matters urgently important to Hoosiers. Both are assigned to the Senate’s Corrections and Criminal Law Committee.  SB 28 would close critical gaps in background checks for purchase of firearms. SB 29 would require guns in homes to be stored securely to keep them …

Vigil For Gun Violence Victims

Hoosiers Concerned About Gun Violence held a Vigil on December 12 at City Market to read the names of homicide victims killed by firearms in Marion County in the past twelve months. This was our contribution to the National Vigil for Victims of Gun Violence this weekend coordinated by the Newtown Action Coalition for the second anniversary of the Newtown …