This whole thread would be moot if more of us would just follow the advice of a famous INGO poster/lawyer. "Get the stupid license"
Continuing Legal Education. The annual classes that lawyers have to take to keep their license. They must get a certain number of credits each year.
Do you guys get any training on new laws when they go into effect, or refreshers on current laws?
Here's my two cents on this, for what it's worth. To me, it seems kind of presumptuous to assume this. It would be quite a leap of faith to think that this board had that kind of influence on the operations of an organization such as the DNR. My gut tells me that it might have more to do with the amazing increase in handgun ownership and LTCH applications that started near the beginning of the Obama administration. (cause & effect?)Well, it was, until we all started playing internet lawyers and attracted a lot of LE and DNR attention on our board. The number of reports of DNR CO's checking licenses @dnr properties has skyrocketed since we began this line of discussion over a year ago.
You guys go onto State of Indiana property with your personally owned firearms to shoot them and you wonder why a representative of the State can check that it is legal for you to do so? Including transport to and away from the State range property? Heck, I'm surprised that the CO didn't run the serial numbers of all the firearms.
If you don't want these kind of hassles, join a private shooting club. Shooting on a private shooting range, that you are a member of, means that you are on your own property.
The Indiana Code:
IC 35-47-2-2
Excepted persons
Sec. 2. Section 1 of this chapter does not apply to:
(1) marshals;
(2) sheriffs;
(3) the commissioner of the department of correction or persons authorized by him in writing to carry firearms;
(4) judicial officers;
(5) law enforcement officers;
(6) members of the armed forces of the United States or of the national guard or organized reserves while they are on duty;
(7) regularly enrolled members of any organization duly authorized to purchase or receive such weapons from the United States or from this state who are at or are going to or from their place of assembly or target practice;
(8) employees of the United States duly authorized to carry handguns;
(9) employees of express companies when engaged in company business;
(10) any person engaged in the business of manufacturing, repairing, or dealing in firearms or the agent or representative of any such person having in his possession, using, or carrying a handgun in the usual or ordinary course of that business; or
(11) any person while carrying a handgun unloaded and in a secure wrapper from the place of purchase to his dwelling or fixed place of business, or to a place of repair or back to his dwelling or fixed place of business, or in moving from one dwelling or business to another.
I believe that the only reason the poorly written and overly restrictive Indiana handgun codes have not been challenged with more outrage by the gun-owning community is simply because the stupid license exempts you from the otherwise ridiculous burdens imposed.
Once you have it (inclusive you meaning most all of us), it's easier to tell everyone else to get the stupid license like you did if they want to avoid being restricted rather than get the stupid restrictions repealed for all.
The fact remains, without the LTCH, Indiana is among the most restrictive states by not even allowing secured transport of a handgun under most circumstances.
To expect people to buy (the license) before they even try (a handgun) or even suggesting that they would know the requirements as "non gun-savvy folks" is letting our own hindsight blind us to the remaining burdensome mess of infringements which we simply don't have to deal with any more.
Yes, get the license
...but I challenge us to accept nothing short of continuing the fight to remove its need by urging our legislators to repeal these "pay to play" infringements from our code.
This thread is only moot if we believe the current state of Indiana code is the way it should be.
So what if someone shooting with you doesn't have an LTCH and they are using your firearms?
I have been researching this for days since the incident happened. From what I have been told from EVERY legal entity I have talked to every person is to have a license in order to have the gun in his possession, including for firing purposes. That being said, we are working with both DNR and NRA to get to the bottom of this fiasco. Ironic thing is that a police officer could do the same thing at any other public range (not just DNR facilities) and yet they choose not to. Why are we a target? Food for thought
I have been researching this for days since the incident happened. From what I have been told from EVERY legal entity I have talked to every person is to have a license in order to have the gun in his possession, including for firing purposes. That being said, we are working with both DNR and NRA to get to the bottom of this fiasco. Ironic thing is that a police officer could do the same thing at any other public range (not just DNR facilities) and yet they choose not to. Why are we a target? Food for thought
My wife and I both have lifetime LTCH in Indiana. I shoot often and carry all the time. My wife seldom shoots and NEVER carries a gun. With that said, we got her a lifetime license bc the law is VERY restrictive and if you are an adult you could go to jail for some really simple situations if you do not have the LTCH. For instance, I always carry a gun but what if I need to go in the courthouse, airport, etc, that does not allow them? I leave the gun in the car with my wife. Without the LTCH she would be guilty of possessing a handgun without a license!Once you have it (inclusive you meaning most all of us), it's easier to tell everyone else to get the stupid license like you did if they want to avoid being restricted rather than get the stupid restrictions repealed for all.
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