AUBURN — A bill limiting local governments from restricting firearms has northeast Indiana mayors worried about the reach of the state government into community affairs.
Senate Bill 292 essentially stops local governments, libraries and mass transit systems from regulating guns. Local ordinances restricting firearms no longer would be legal, such as laws against firing a gun in city limits, according to the bill.
The bill would allow people to carry licensed firearms into most public places.
State restrictions would stand. Guns could not go on school grounds or in the Statehouse and other government centers.
Guns still would be outlawed in colleges, hospitals and in buildings with courts or with metal detectors at public entrances. Trained personnel, such as police officers, could search for firearms and prohibit people from bringing them into official meetings.
“I don’t like it. It takes away local government’s ability to govern,” Angola Mayor Richard Hickman said.
Auburn Mayor Norm Yoder had similar concerns.
“The state is overreaching into local control,” he said.
Supporters of the bill say it helps fix the gaps between ordinances in communities. Sen. Dennis Kruse, R-Auburn, a co-author of the bill, said a unified state law will help everyone.
“It keeps people from having to memorize all the ordinances and risk breaking local law,” Kruse said.
The bill passed the Indiana House on April 18 by a 77-21 vote. The senate passed it 38-12 in February.
Differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill are scheduled to be worked out this week. It then goes to Gov. Mitch Daniels for his signature or veto. If signed, the bill would take effect July 1.
Kendallville Mayor Suzanne Handshoe, a former Marine, said she is against the bill.
“Local government should be able to pass laws based on the needs of the individual communities,” she said. “We are to serve and protect the people who elected us to do so.”
Hickman argues that what people care about differs between communities.
“If the local people don’t care about (gun restrictions), then it’s fine,” Hickman said. “But if they do, they need to have the ability to set up an ordinance.”
Kruse admitted he’s normally for local control, but said he still wanted to back this bill.
“Every legislator goes back and forth. I’m for local control, but there are some areas where state law does make sense,” Kruse said.
Each mayor said the ability to fire a gun inside city limits is a safety concern and a reason to question the bill.
“Who thought that was a good idea?” Hickman said. “We need to provide public safety, and this takes away from the safety already put in place.”
DeKalb County Sheriff Don Lauer said he doesn’t think the bill will change much from county to county. Concealed carry laws already allow people to legally carry hidden, licensed firearms into most public places, he said.
“It mostly makes sense to me. It offers consistency,” Lauer said. “Why should a law-abiding citizen from DeKalb County worry about the restrictions from one place to another?”
He added, “If someone is bent on causing damage, their going to do it whether there is an ordinance or not.”
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