STATEHOUSE (March 31, 2023) – State Rep. Martin Carbaugh's (R-Fort Wayne) legislation to take more illegal firearms off the streets could soon be law.
House Enrolled Act 1308, which is on its way to the governor's desk to be signed into law, would add Allen County to the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force. The partnership between Indiana and federal law enforcement agencies was established through legislation in 2021 to address violent crime in eight central Indiana counties by sharing information, using data-driven methods to link crime guns to unsolved cases and collaborating to apprehend suspects.
"Public safety is always a top priority," Carbaugh said. "I believe joining this task force will help local law enforcement better collaborate with federal officials to solve more crimes, which will get more criminals and illegal guns off of our streets. This effort will increase public safety in our area and beyond."
In its first year, the task force seized 369 firearms and arrested nearly 400 suspects. Just this month, they worked with officials from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department to arrest five individuals and remove four illegal firearms.
According to the latest data from the FBI, the Fort Wayne Police Department reported 660 violent crimes in 2021 and 286 involved firearms.
Establishing the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force built on the success of the former Indianapolis Crime Gun Intelligence Center. From January 2019 to July 2021, the organization seized more than 700 firearms, arrested over 800 suspects and added more than 24,500 entries into the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network to help close unsolved cases.
Learn more about House Enrolled Act 1308 by visiting iga.in.gov.
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State Rep. Martin Carbaugh (R-Fort Wayne) represents House District 81,
which includes a portion of Allen County.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
