House Bill 1369 would repeal a law that requires a person to have a license to carry a handgun in the state. | Pixabay
House Bill 1369 would repeal a law that requires a person to have a license to carry a handgun in the state. | Pixabay
Paul Phillips, an Indiana volunteer with the Convention of States, is encouraging residents to become more involved in airing their views as state legislators consider lifting handgun restrictions and restricting emergency powers of the governor during the current legislative session.
The Convention of States is a national convention called by states for the purpose of proposing amendments to the Constitution.
Phillips said representatives are receptive to hearing from their constituents.
“They [Indiana residents] can take the time to engage with their representatives on issues of importance to them,” Phillips told the Hoosier State Today.
The Indiana General Assembly reached the halfway mark in its first session in late February. The Republican-majority House passed a $36 billion budget with $378 million going to K-12 schools. State Democrats blasted the budget currently on route to the Senate, saying it shorts working people, food banks, women- and minority-owned businesses and provides little for preschools.
In other business, the Senate passed legislation (HB 1123) that would restrict the emergency powers of the governor, currently Republican Eric Holcomb, to declare a statewide emergency for longer than 60 days because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lawmakers have been unhappy with restrictions they maintain are crippling the state’s economy.
Additional proposed legislation (HB 1384) will require students in grades six, seven and eight to take a semester civics class. And HB 1369 will repeal a current law that requires a gun owner to obtain a license.
"Each of these bills addresses an issue related to self-governance," Phillips said. "1384 provides for civics education so that citizens will understand how our government is intended to work and what their role is.”
He added that HB 1123 "gives a voice to citizens," through their elected legislators, when the governor declares a state of emergency.
The gun legislation, Philips said, “Recognizes a right to self-defense and removes the criminality of simply carrying a handgun for those who are not otherwise prohibited from doing so.”
For information on the legislative agenda, visit http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2021/bills/house/1369.
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