300,000 Hoosiers have gun permits
So 300,000 Hoosiers have gun permits, second in per-capita carry permits only to New York. As getting one in NY is neigh impossible I am scratching my head over that one but that’s for another time.
The underlying thread of the story and likely the intention of the article is firearms training and the fact that Indiana does not require any before issuing a permit. Indiana has had the current permit system in place for many many decades; only 12 other states issued permits and the term “shall issue” was unknown only a decade or so ago. And Indiana also honors carry permits issued by any state that issues them (sorry Vermont). Over this past decade the total is up to 36 states with “shall issue” permit systems, many requiring training.
Now the second part of the push will begin to get Hoosiers to conform and revise our permit requirements. (The first part was when the ATF arbitrarily decided after 8 years the Indiana carry permit no longer qualifies as a subsitute to the Federal “instant” background check system for firearms purchase)
Ultimately the question I have to ask is do Hoosiers have a disporportionate number of per-capita accidental discharges or other “incedents” that training would have prevented? No. In fact with approximately 1500 permits being revolked in a given year for misconduct or arrest, less than 1/2% of the total, Hoosier permit holders are among the most responsible members of Hoosier society.
Am I against training? Absolutely not! But should anyone put conditions on rights guarenteed by not only the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States but also by the Indiana State Constitution? No.
There is a downside to Indiana not requiring training and this is the carrot that will be used to pressure permit holders while the media beats the legislators with the “safety” stick. Indiana honors Ohio’s new permits but Indiana permits are invalid in Ohio because of the lack of a training requirement to get the Indiana permit.
But there is a simple solution to this delima, some sort of training check box on the currently issued permit. Permit holders could then provide the Indiana State Police a copy of their NRA approved basic safety training certificate of completion to have the box checked on a reissued permit. But that’s too simple.
(Of additional interest: Statistics for firearm permit ownership in Indiana )