Certain Statehouse employees to receive firearms training

In April, Gov. Eric Holcomb signed into law legislation allowing certain employees to carry a handgun.

Senate Enrolled Act 43 allows professional staff who are permanent employees of the General Assembly and staff of the Indiana Legislative Services Agency, among others, to carry a handgun in the Capitol and the surrounding state complex. They must possess a valid Indiana license to carry a handgun.

Prior to the new law, only legislators could carry handguns.

LSA serves as a nonpartisan staff for the 150 members of the General Assembly.

Employees will not be discharging guns in the session but learn safety tips from an Indiana State Police trooper.

Concern arose in January among state employees after an 18-year-old man was shot on the Statehouse grounds. Adding to safety concern was a separate incident in which a female Senate staffer reportedly was accosted outside the Statehouse.

On Oct. 20, LSA employees underwent personal safety training, but that training did not focus on firearms.