Daniels OKs gun bills
By JENNIFER WHITSON Courier & Press Indianapolis bureau (317) 631-7405 or whitsonj@courierpress.com
March 22, 2006
INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels signed two bills pushed by gun-rights advocates in a brief Statehouse ceremony Tuesday.
One change, effective July 1, will allow gun owners to get a lifetime carrying permit. Under current law, if gun owners want to carry their guns, they must apply for a carrying permit, pay a $25 fee and renew the permit every four years.
The new law, which was sponsored by state Rep. Troy Woodruff, R-Vincennes, allows current permit holders to pay $100 to convert to a lifetime, unlimited carrying permit. A new lifetime carrying permit would cost $125. Owners could also still opt to get a four-year permit, but the act increases the price to $40.
The cost for a lifetime qualified license, issued for hunting and target practice, will be $60 to convert an existing license and $75 for a new lifetime license.
Gun rights advocates backed the bill and said Indiana would be the first state in the nation with a lifetime carrying permit. Several proponents, including roughly 35 people from 2nd
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Amendment Patriots in Southwestern Indiana, came to the Statehouse for a Tuesday signing ceremony with the governor.
"This is really a big deal," said Steve McBrian of Boonville, who is also running for the House District 74 seat.
Thomas Weddle of Fort Branch made the trip with his wife and five children.
"I came up for my children to see government in action and how citizens can make a difference by representing their beliefs to the Legislature," Weddle said.
Jim Tomes, leader of the group, said the legislation passed this year was the most progress the state has seen on gun rights in years.
"This year, by far, we have the most spectacular goals we've accomplished," Tomes said.
The bill also requires the Indiana State Police to set up an online application process and participate in the National Instate Criminal Background Check System if federal funds are available to pay for the changes.
The second bill adds a provision on using force for self defense, stating that a person does not have a duty to retreat before using reasonable force to protect himself or another person who is in danger.
The amended law also now states that a person does not have a duty to first try to flee before using deadly force to defend against someone breaking into his home or car.
Representatives from national gun rights groups also attended the ceremony. Daniels said that with the deadline for signing bills into laws, he can only spare enough time to do ceremonies for the most noteworthy.
"For those of us who believe the 2nd Amendment means exactly what is says ... this is exactly the kind of step we need to take," Daniels said.
Joe