Indiana House panel backs allowing guns in school lots

State Rep. Jim Lucas, R-Seymour, authored the legislation, which has found a new home in a Senate bill. His original House bill failed to clear that chamber.

The provision, which would allow guns to be locked and out of sight inside a vehicle in a school parking lot, was added to Senate Bill 229. The bill also would prohibit local governments from conducting firearm buyback programs with public money.

The measure passed the House Public Policy Committee and now heads to the full House for consideration, The Associated Press reported.

Current law makes bringing a gun onto school property a Class D felony, Lucas said. His provision would protect parents who inadvertently have their guns with them when they pick up their children at school.

“A lot of Hoosiers not intending any harm or bad whatsoever are subjected to felony charges,” Lucas said. “This allows them to lock their owned firearm in a vehicle on school property out of sight.”

He said there are more than 530,000 Hoosiers who have a license to carry a handgun. He also added that the number of gun permits issued by the state rose by 83 percent during 2013 from the previous year.

Lucas gave an example of how the bill would help teachers, who possibly travel far distances to work, to be able to keep their gun safely locked in their vehicle during school hours. Then they would have protection leaving work.

“(He or she) may travel through an area that’s not so comfortable or go to a place after work,” he said.

He added some parents could benefit knowing they can legally lock their gun in their car while stopping in to talk to staff members or watch their kids play sports.

In opposition to the bill, members of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America held up signs protesting the proposal, The Associated Press reported.

Lucas said the measure has a strong chance of becoming enacted because of the positive response he’s heard from the public.