In 2022, the FBI sent a letter to all county sheriffs' offices in Missouri seeking to randomly audit their records on concealed carry handgun permit holders. The Missouri Attorney General responded with a letter to the bureau explaining that it's illegal under their state laws to share such confidential information with the federal government and ordered all the sheriffs not to comply with the request.
To prevent a similar action in Indiana, I co-authored legislation that would restrict what information the federal government can request on lawful Hoosiers who have handgun carry permits. House Bill 1323, which was supported by the Indiana House and is now with the Senate for consideration, would only allow information from a carry permit holder or a person applying for a permit to be released to the federal government if they are part of an active criminal investigation or arrested for a crime.
While handgun carry permits are not required in Indiana, Hoosiers can choose to apply for a five-year or lifetime permit from the Indiana State Police, which includes submitting an application with your personal information and fingerprints.
If passed, this legislation would add to previous successes at defending our Second Amendment right, and removing unnecessary regulatory and financial burdens on lawful Hoosier gun owners.
Last year the Indiana General Assembly passed legislation removing the requirement for lawful Hoosiers to obtain a permit before carrying a handgun. Those purchasing a firearm are still required to complete the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives form, and be approved by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. A law that went into effect in 2021 waived local and state fees for lifetime handgun carry licenses.
Carry permit holders in our state should not have to worry about their personal information being shared with the federal government without a legitimate reason, nor face financial hurdles to protecting themselves and their families using a constitutional right. I will continue to fight for the liberties of lawful gun owners.
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State Rep. Stephen Bartels (R-Eckerty) represents House District 74,
which includes Crawford, Perry and Spencer counties, and portions of Dubois and Orange counties.
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