Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

GOP Leaders Halt Gun Bills To Avoid Statehouse Debate

Brandon Smith
/
IPB News

Republican leaders say they halted gun bills in each chamber Thursday to avoid debate on several gun regulation proposals.

Lawmakers say they plan to revive some of the language in those bills before the session ends.

One of the gun bills would allow firearms in houses of worship on school property. The other would eliminate the state’s lifetime handgun license fee and allow certain permit holders to avoid background checks at every gun purchase.

There were several proposed amendments on everything from banning bump stocks and assault weapons to barring those on the terror watch list from possessing guns.

Senate President Pro Tem David Long (R-Fort Wayne) says the majority party didn’t want to go through those debates.

“This is nothing new. We’re just trying to manage the process, get through there without having a debate on things that are really not going to make a difference because they won’t pass and they’re just placed to embarrass someone,” Long says.

Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis) says Republicans are afraid of the debate.

“They’re afraid of the voters," DeLaney says. "So they don’t want to engage in the debate because they can’t choose between the voters and the NRA.”

Republican leaders say language to eliminate the lifetime license fee and restore the houses of worship provision will likely resurface before the end of session.

Brandon Smith is excited to be working for public radio in Indiana. He has previously worked in public radio as a reporter and anchor in mid-Missouri for KBIA Radio out of Columbia. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, Illinois as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, Missouri, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.
Related Content