When Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb took the stage at the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in his home state, he had a little surprise in store for the audience. During his speech, the governor signed House Bill 1284, a concealed-carry reform bill, into law.
HB 1284 will make it easier for law-abiding Hoosiers to defend themselves by expanding self-defense options in two ways. It:
• Eliminates state fees for a new five-year state license to carry a handgun;
• Allows law-abiding gun owners to carry a firearm for self-protection during religious services at places of worship on school grounds.
Additionally, the new law will provide immunity for a justified use of force in certain instances to help prevent frivolous lawsuits. It will also require a court to award, in certain instances, reasonable attorney’s fees if it determines a suit was brought unjustly, helping to prevent financial ruin for individuals protecting themselves and others.
The NRA applauded Holcomb’s signing of the bill.
“Under this new law, honest, hard-working gun owners will no longer be forced to pay $125 to exercise a fundamental right that ought to be free,” said Chris W. Cox, NRA-ILA executive director. “This law ends this abuse and ensures that the most vulnerable gun owners are able to protect themselves without worrying about the cost of a license.”
