In what is sure to be seen as a growing trend, the Indiana Senate voted to change state law as it pertains to houses of worship on school property. The senate voted 43-5, in favor of the bill. Currently, Indiana state law does not prohibit lawfully carried firearms at a house of worship unless there is a school located on the same property. Carrying a firearm, even accidentally, onto school property is a felony.
Senate Bill (S.B.) 33 will eliminate the prohibition on firearms in houses of worship, regardless if there is a school on the property or not. The bill’s sponsor, Indianapolis Republican Jack Sandlin, proposed the bill as a way to allow houses of worship to protect those attending services or other programs on their property. However, houses of worship will still be able to prohibit worshipers from bringing firearms onto religious property if they establish policies to that effect.
