VICTORY FOR GUN SAFETY: Indiana Senate Unanimously Passed Bill to Expand Access to Funds for Victims of Gun Violence and Tabled Permitless Carry Bill
2.25.2022
The Indiana chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, released the following statement after the Indiana Senate unanimously passed House Bill 1292, legislation that would expand access to supportive funds for victims and their family members who have experienced violent crime, including gun violence. The Indiana House of Representatives has already unanimously passed this critical legislation. The bill now moves to Governor Eric Holcomb’s desk. Additionally, House Bill 1077, dangerous permitless carry legislation, was significantly amended and referred to a committee where it missed a key deadline and can no longer advance.
“This vote shows resounding, bipartisan agreement that survivors of gun violence and their loved ones deserve the financial support and access to services that they need to heal,” said Tricia Owens, a volunteer with the Indiana chapter of Moms Demand Action. “This bill will take critical steps towards supporting survivors and addressing cycles of violence in Indiana. Governor Holcomb should put victims and survivors of gun violence first, and quickly sign this critical bill into law.”
Victim compensation funds are a vital resource for survivors of gun violence, but legislative barriers exist that limit access to these funds. House Bill 1292 would address some of these barriers by expanding who is eligible to apply for financial reimbursement, expanding the types of expenses for which survivors can seek reimbursement, and expanding the definition of “cooperation with law enforcement” in certain situations.
In addition, yesterday, dangerous permitless carry legislation, House Bill 1077, was assigned to the Indiana Senate Rules Committee where it failed to meet a key deadline and can no longer advance through committee. After opposition from Indiana Moms Demand Action volunteers and law enforcement officers across the state, the Senate Judiciary Committee recently amended House Bill 1077 to no longer eliminate Indiana’s concealed carry handgun license requirement – a policy shown to increase gun violence in other states that is broadly opposed by law enforcement. The amended bill would have also included policies that would require an individual to obtain a provisional handgun license – which lasts for 90 days – while waiting for a traditional handgun license.
In a statement yesterday, Indiana Moms Demand Action volunteer Heather Hilbert said, “Getting rid of Indiana’s permit requirement is dangerous, unnecessary, and will only make our state’s gun violence crisis worse.Our permitting system is a simple and effective public safety measure that makes sure that firearms stay out of the wrong hands. Our lawmakers should listen to the people who elected them, and prioritize actions that will end the gun violence crisis, not gut common sense measures that actually protect our communities.”
Learn more about gun violence in Indiana here. Learn more about victim compensation funding here.