Question: Can I take my gun to a shooting range or gunsmith without a permit?
Answer: Yes. However, it has to be in your trunk, in a locked case, and separate from any ammo.
I had a really tough time getting a straight answer on this, so I went and talked to the Fort Wayne and Allen county sheriffs. An Indiana gun permit allows you to carry your weapon on your person. You don't need one to go to a shooting range or gunsmith as long as you follow the stated procedure. Hopefully this helps a few people out in this state.
Well the main problem I was having is that some places it is, or maybe used to be, written that you can't leave your house with any firearm you own without a permit. This caused half the many people I asked about this to think you need a permit to target shoot. So this is either an outdated law, or a law that the police don't recognize since the sheriff himself told me it's cool. heh.
The written statute is clear that you need a LTCH to transport a handgun outside of your home property after purchase. The only exception is to transport the handgun to and from a place of repair.
If you get caught with a handgun without a LTCH, as in going to target shoot at a range, the particular police officer engaging you may or may not enforce the law... not a chance I'd be willing to take. It doesn't matter what your police officer, sargeant, or sherriff told you; the written law is pretty clear and if a different officer is the one who confronts you on the matter and asks to see your LTCH... and you don't have one... you could be in big trouble.
Your best bet is to get a LTCH, takes a little time but very easy to do... and IN still issues lifetime LTCH licenses.
As odd and as stupid as it seems, you can drive with a loaded shotgun in the back seat of your car... perfectly legal... but you can't drive with an unloaded, locked, handgun locked in the trunk of your car if you don't have a LTCH.
Indiana Code 35-47-2 Chapter 2. Regulation of Handguns
<A name=IC35-47-2-1>IC 35-47-2-1 Carrying a handgun without a license or by person convicted of domestic battery Sec. 1. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) and section 2 of this chapter, a person shall not carry a handgun in any vehicle or on or about the person's body, except in the person's dwelling, on the person's property or fixed place of business, without a license issued under this chapter being in the person's possession.
(b) Unless the person's right to possess a firearm has been restored under IC 35-47-4-7, a person who has been convicted of domestic battery under IC 35-42-2-1.3 may not possess or carry a handgun in any vehicle or on or about the person's body in the person's dwelling or on the person's property or fixed place of business. As added by P.L.311-1983, SEC.32. Amended by P.L.326-1987, SEC.1; P.L.195-2003, SEC.6; P.L.98-2004, SEC.155; P.L.118-2007, SEC.35. <A name=IC35-47-2-2>IC 35-47-2-2 Excepted persons Sec. 2. Section 1 of this chapter does not apply to:
(1) marshals;
(2) sheriffs;
(3) the commissioner of the department of correction or persons authorized by him in writing to carry firearms;
(4) judicial officers;
(5) law enforcement officers;
(6) members of the armed forces of the United States or of the national guard or organized reserves while they are on duty;
(7) regularly enrolled members of any organization duly authorized to purchase or receive such weapons from the United States or from this state who are at or are going to or from their place of assembly or target practice;
(8) employees of the United States duly authorized to carry handguns;
(9) employees of express companies when engaged in company business;
(10) any person engaged in the business of manufacturing, repairing, or dealing in firearms or the agent or representative of any such person having in his possession, using, or carrying a handgun in the usual or ordinary course of that business; or
(11) any person while carrying a handgun unloaded and in a secure wrapper from the place of purchase to his dwelling or fixed place of business, or to a place of repair or back to his dwelling or fixed place of business, or in moving from one dwelling or business to another.
Ft Wayne has one of the few anti-gun mayors in the state. Do yourself a favor. Ask that Sheriff to put what he told you in writing. Don't be completely shocked when he refuses.
srad is entirely correct......
__________________
NRA Life Member
Freedom has a flavor the protected can never taste
USMC RVN Jun '67, - May 69
The written statute is clear that you need a LTCH to transport a handgun outside of your home property after purchase. The only exception is to transport the handgun to and from a place of repair.
If you get caught with a handgun without a LTCH, as in going to target shoot at a range, the particular police officer engaging you may or may not enforce the law... not a chance I'd be willing to take. It doesn't matter what your police officer, sargeant, or sherriff told you; the written law is pretty clear and if a different officer is the one who confronts you on the matter and asks to see your LTCH... and you don't have one... you could be in big trouble.
Your best bet is to get a LTCH, takes a little time but very easy to do... and IN still issues lifetime LTCH licenses.
As odd and as stupid as it seems, you can drive with a loaded shotgun in the back seat of your car... perfectly legal... but you can't drive with an unloaded, locked, handgun locked in the trunk of your car if you don't have a LTCH.
Indiana Code 35-47-2
Chapter 2. Regulation of Handguns
<A name=IC35-47-2-1>IC 35-47-2-1 Carrying a handgun without a license or by person convicted of domestic battery
Sec. 1. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) and section 2 of this chapter, a person shall not carry a handgun in any vehicle or on or about the person's body, except in the person's dwelling, on the person's property or fixed place of business, without a license issued under this chapter being in the person's possession.
(b) Unless the person's right to possess a firearm has been restored under IC 35-47-4-7, a person who has been convicted of domestic battery under IC 35-42-2-1.3 may not possess or carry a handgun in any vehicle or on or about the person's body in the person's dwelling or on the person's property or fixed place of business. As added by P.L.311-1983, SEC.32. Amended by P.L.326-1987, SEC.1; P.L.195-2003, SEC.6; P.L.98-2004, SEC.155; P.L.118-2007, SEC.35. <A name=IC35-47-2-2>IC 35-47-2-2 Excepted persons
Sec. 2. Section 1 of this chapter does not apply to:
(1) marshals;
(2) sheriffs;
(3) the commissioner of the department of correction or persons authorized by him in writing to carry firearms;
(4) judicial officers;
(5) law enforcement officers;
(6) members of the armed forces of the United States or of the national guard or organized reserves while they are on duty;
(7) regularly enrolled members of any organization duly authorized to purchase or receive such weapons from the United States or from this state who are at or are going to or from their place of assembly or target practice;
(8) employees of the United States duly authorized to carry handguns;
(9) employees of express companies when engaged in company business;
(10) any person engaged in the business of manufacturing, repairing, or dealing in firearms or the agent or representative of any such person having in his possession, using, or carrying a handgun in the usual or ordinary course of that business; or
(11) any person while carrying a handgun unloaded and in a secure wrapper from the place of purchase to his dwelling or fixed place of business, or to a place of repair or back to his dwelling or fixed place of business, or in moving from one dwelling or business to another.
I would like to add to that. Indiana offers 2 different licenses. Hunting/Target the gun must be transported unloaded and Personal protection. With a personal protection licenses you can wear the gun loaded. I`ve seen concervation officers bus people for having handguns on a DNR range without a LTCH.
Anyone that owns a handgun should spend the $125 for a lifetime personal protection licenses and avoid legal hassles.
