Indiana nears law allowing more armed statewide officials at state Capitol

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Four statewide elected officials in Indiana including the attorney general and secretary of state can carry handguns in the state Capitol under a bill that lawmakers revived and sent to Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb Thursday.

Members of the General Assembly and their staff already have the right to carry a handgun in the state Capitol and on the complex grounds. The new measure would also repeal a stipulation that lawmakers and their staff have a valid Indiana license to carry.

The original state Senate proposal on the matter failed to advance past a second floor vote last month. But lawmakers brought back the idea by adding the language to another bill in the session’s final days.

However, the newest incarnation does not extend the right to the staff members of the elected officials as originally proposed. Holcomb’s office declined to comment on whether he supports the measure.

The final compromise would allow the state attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer and comptroller to carry a handgun if they are not otherwise barred by state or federal law. The language was added to House Bill 1084, which would prohibit a governmental entity from keeping a list or record of privately owned firearms or owners of firearms.

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