The Indianapolis City Council recently passed a measure that would overly burden law-abiding gun owners while not deterring violent crime. But since the proposal arguably violates the state’s pre-emption statute concerning firearms laws, the mayor might decide to veto it.
The measure would require gun owners to contact the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department within 48 hours of discovering a firearm missing if it is lost or stolen. Those who fail to do so face a fine of $50, plus court costs, rendering the ordinance a punishment for those who are victims of crime.
All is not lost, however. “As things stand now, he [Mayor Greg Ballard] has some significant concerns about the legality and the timing of the proposal,” Jen Pittman, a spokesman for the mayor’s office, told the Indianapolis Star.
