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A bill that would allow elected statewide officeholders, including the Indiana attorney general, to carry a handgun on the state Capitol complex has passed through an Indiana Senate committee, though not without a passionate debate.
Senate Bill 14 would allow the Indiana attorney general, secretary of state, state comptroller and treasurer of state, as well as their staffs, to carry a handgun at the Statehouse or the adjacent Indiana Government Centers — a right already given to state lawmakers and their staffs.
Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-Indianapolis, who chairs the Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee, said the idea was brought to him last year by Indiana Treasurer Dan Elliott.
Elliott, a Republican who took office in 2023, testified in committee that he has a handgun license and has carried for years. He said lawmakers he’s spoken to are surprised that he and the other statewide elected officials aren’t permitted to carry a handgun in the Capitol complex.
Elliott also said he spoke with the other officeholders mentioned in the bill — Attorney General Todd Rokita, Secretary of State Diego Morales and State Comptroller Elise Nieshalla — and all are in favor of the legislation, including the amendment that would extend the right to carry to their full-time staff members.
Although the state comptroller is included in the bill, Nieshalla is not technically an “elected” official. She was appointed by Gov. Eric Holcomb on Dec. 1, 2023, to replace former state Auditor Tera Klutz, who retired from public service on Nov. 30, 2023.
“I don’t have the same rights that you as members of the General Assembly do,” Elliott told committee members. “Simply all I’m asking for … is that I have that same right.
“I believe it is something that the elected officials should be able to decide for their own staff,” Elliott added. “So just because I may make that choice, I may make that choice for my staff, that may not necessarily be what other statewide electeds do, and as elected officials, they should have that right.”
SB 14 does require those covered under the bill to have a handgun license in order to carry on the Capitol complex — a requirement that Senate Minority Leader Greg Taylor noted seemingly goes against Indiana’s permitless carry policy.
But the prohibition against carrying a handgun in the Statehouse isn’t law — it’s an executive order from the governor, meaning it’s not a crime to carry a handgun in the Capitol. Thus, SB 14 provides that notwithstanding the governor’s administrative rule, those covered under the bill who have a handgun license can still carry on the complex.
The bill’s author, Republican Sen. Jim Tomes of Wadesville, said the legislation is an extension of his previous legislation that gave lawmakers and their staffs the right to carry at the Capitol. He said Indianapolis is a dangerous city, so lawmakers and statewide elected officials should have the ability to defend themselves, if needed.
That prompted a fiery response from Taylor, an Indianapolis Democrat who said it “burns me to my core” to hear people use the city’s violent crime as a “scapegoat” for gun-related legislation.
Tomes said Indianapolis is the 12th most dangerous city in the country, but Taylor noted that statistic only applies to major cities with large populations, not every city in the nation.
Taylor also added that the victims of violent crime in Indianapolis are “in certain environments consistently.”
“So don’t think that somebody who wants to hurt somebody is gonna come down to this heavily armed state Capitol complex and try to harm you,” Taylor said. “It’s gonna be specific to you, it’s gonna be specific to something you’ve done to abridge someone’s, they feel, their right, and that’s what’s gonna happen.
“So if we want to look at this as a piece of legislation to protect yourself, I give you that,” he continued. “But don’t use my city as a scapegoat, and I’m getting fed up with it.”
Speaking directly to Tomes, Taylor sarcastically suggested moving the Capitol out of Indianapolis.
Tomes replied, “Maybe just control the crime in the city, perhaps.”
Taylor also expressed frustration that there was no testimony from the Governor’s Office, Capitol Police or the Department of Administration, the latter of which he said is responsible for public safety in the Capitol complex. He said he would be contacting those offices to get their feedback.
“Man, we’ve gotta have some courage in this administration to come forward and say that they don’t like this stuff,” Taylor said. “They’re not here today, and I think that’s on purpose.”
Another sticking point for lawmakers — specifically Sen. Sue Glick, R-LaGrange, and Sen. Rodney Pol, D-Chesterton — is how many people would be covered under the bill, given that the amendment, which passed 5-2, would extend the right to carry to the staffs of the four statewide officeholders.
The exact number of people who would be permitted to carry under SB 14 was unknown at the time of the hearing.
Pol also expressed concern about the bill not requiring staffers to undergo a gun safety training program.
He noted that the law giving legislators and their staffs the right to carry includes language subjecting that right to personnel policies, which, for lawmakers, includes training. But SB 14 includes no such language for the statewide elected officials and their staff members.
Aside from Elliott, the only other person who testified on SB 14 was Mary Frey, a sophomore at North Central High School who opposed the bill.
Both Freeman and Taylor commended Frey for appearing before lawmakers, and Freeman encouraged her to pursue open discourse and civility even with those she disagrees with.
Pol and Taylor voted against SB 14, with Pol again raising concerns about the unknown number of people covered under the bill and the lack of parameters, such as a training requirement.
In casting his vote, Taylor again expressed concern about the offices that weren’t present to testify, and he pledged to contact them.
“I don’t know where we’re gonna go,” Taylor said. “I thought we were done after we did permitless carry. I thought it was over, but I guess it’s just not.
“I believe Dan (Elliott) should have the ability to protect himself,” Taylor added. “I also believe that people inside this building have a right to protect themselves who choose not to carry.”
Glick ultimately voted in favor of SB 14, though she still expressed reservations.
“I have serious concerns about this bill, especially since it’s been extended to all the staff members, and we don’t even know that number,” Glick said. “I find it interesting that elected state officials, including one that was appointed very, very recently, is already considering carrying a gun because she finds the job dangerous enough that she requires that.
“I have serious concerns about this all the way around,” Glick continued. “I would not begrudge the state officials the right to carry a gun, although we don’t even know if there’s been any threats been made in any way shape or form — only that they feel better protected armed and ready to go.”
SB 14 passed out of the Corrections committee 5-2 and is on the Senate’s second reading calendar for Thursday, when it can be amended on the floor.
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