The Indiana Senate has unanimously endorsed a proposal to add Porter and LaPorte counties to the jurisdiction of the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force.
Initially established in central Indiana in 2021, the task force aims to reduce violent crime and bring violent criminals to justice by working with local, state and federal authorities to trace the firearms used in felony and misdemeanor offenses.
Hoosier lawmakers first expanded its work to Fort Wayne and then Lake County in 2025.
State Sen. Rodney Pol Jr., D-Chesterton, the sponsor of Senate Bill 148, said it just makes sense to include Porter and LaPorte counties as well.
"This should be something that is statewide, and this is an essential step to helping create more of presence in Northwest Indiana," Pol said.
"We are located right next to one of the biggest cities in the world being right across the state line from Chicago, and we know that oftentimes crime just does not see an imaginary border. So we often get a lot of gun violence that comes over the state line."
Data presented this month to the Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee show the task force seized 349 illegal firearms in 2025, generated 293 arrests for state-level crimes and 28 federal arrests.
Altogether, the task force has removed some 1,500 illegal guns from Indiana's streets over the past five years, including nearly 200 firearms modified to shoot as rapidly as machine guns.
"The investment that has been put into this task force has paid off in spades for us. We've ultimately solved a number of crimes here in central Indiana, have gotten a number of illegal guns off the streets here in central Indiana," Pol said. "(This bill) will help build on the great work that's already been done by this body in creating the task force."
The measure next goes to the House for a decision on advancing it to the governor to be signed into law.
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