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. 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.
