Indiana Gun Laws

Indiana Gun Forms & Supporting Documentation

• State CCW Site
• Online Application With Instructions
• Schedule Fingerprints Appointment
• Renew Online
• FAQs
• State Statutes
• State Admin Rules
• State Reciprocity Info
• State Attorney General
• Secretary of State
• Age to Carry a Firearm In Other States

Carrying a Firearm

It is prohibited to carry a handgun in a vehicle or on or about the person without possession of a license to do so. The following exceptions apply to carrying without a license:

• Carrying a handgun on one’s own property, including in his/her residence, or at one’s place of business;
• Any law enforcement officer, authorized corrections or judicial officer, or member of the armed services while engaged in official duties, regular members of any organization lawfully allowed to purchase or obtain weapons from the U.S. or the state of Indiana while meeting at an established location for assembly or target practice;
• Any employee of the U.S. authorized to carry a handgun; or employees of a company authorized to carry a handgun while engaged in company business;
• Any person involved in the firearms business while engaged in the ordinary course of that business;
• Any person while moving an unloaded handgun from its place of purchase to their residence or place of business in a secure wrapping, or while moving the handgun from a place of repair to or from the residence or place of business.
• Carrying a handgun while riding on an off road vehicle or snowmobile where the carrier has either: a license to carry is exempt from the licensing requirement, is on private property owned or controlled by him/her, or has express permission from the property owner.

An individual applying for a license to carry a handgun must make application to the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality of his/her residence or place of employment, or to the county sheriff of his her county of residence or place of employment.  The application must contain identifying information including the person’s name, address, physical description, including height, weight, nationality, age and race, any criminal history, length of time at residence, occupation, and the specific reason for wanting to carry a handgun. The law enforcement official who receives the application shall conduct an investigation on the applicant that examines his/her official records, character, reputation, and application information. All information, including the law enforcement official’s recommendation, application, and one set of finger prints shall be forwarded to the Indiana State Police Superintendent. The superintendent may investigate the applicant further or upon finding that he/she is of good character and reputation, is considered a “proper person” to carry a handgun and has a valid reason, issue either a qualified or unlimited license to carry any legally possessed handgun.

A license to carry a handgun shall be valid for a period of four years or for a lifetime, based on whether it is a qualified license or an unlimited license. A qualified license may be issued to an individual for purposes of hunting and target practice. An unlimited license may be issued to an individual in order to protect life and property. The superintendent may adopt rules imposing limitations on the use and carrying of handguns by a license holder who carries a handgun as a condition of his employment.

The term “proper person” refers to a person who:

• Is at least 18 years of age and has never been convicted of a crime carrying a sentence of more than one year;
• Does not abuse drugs or alcohol and does not have a history of violence or instability;
• Has not misrepresented any statement of fact on his/her application;
• Has not been convicted of an offense for resisting law enforcement or of a violation of Indiana weapons laws in the five years prior to submitting the application; and
• Has not been adjudicated a delinquent and has not committed any crime that would be considered a felony if committed by an adult, if the applicant is under 23 years of age.

An applicant’s reputation and propensity to commit a crime may be determined without evidence of a conviction for a violation of the law. If the court can find reason to believe that an applicant committed a Class A or Class B felony, that involved carrying of a weapon while in the commission of a crime, or committing a violent crime, a license to carry a handgun can be denied even if there is no conviction for those offenses.

A license will be granted or rejected by the Indiana State Police Superintendent. An application for renewal of an existing license may be filed 365 days prior to expiration. If a renewal is filed within 30 days of expiration, the license will be automatically extended until a decision has been made. An applicant may request a hearing before the Superintendent if his/her application for a license to carry has been denied. In cases where the denial is upheld, the appeal may be presented to the circuit court.

Fees for the application are broken down by separate state and local amounts. For a four-year unlimited (Personal Protection) license, the fee is $10 for local and $30 state. A four-year qualified (Hunting and Target) license is $10 and $5 state. The fee for a lifetime Personal Protection license for an applicant without a current valid license is $50 local and a $75 fee for the state. A $30 refund shall be given if the license is not issued. A lifetime Personal Protection license with a current valid license will cost $40 local and $60 state. If the license is not issued, $30 will be refunded to the applicant as well. The fee for a Lifetime Hunting and Target license is $50 local and $25 state without a current valid license, and a lifetime Personal Protection license to a person who currently possesses a valid license is $40 local and $60 state fee. A $30 fee shall be refunded if the license is not issued. The lifetime Hunting and Target license fees are $50 local and $25 state if the applicant does not have a current valid license, and $40 local and $20 state with a current valid license. Licensing fees are waived for applicants who are honorably retired from any state or U.S. law enforcement office as a 20-year service member, or a retiree with a disability.

If a superintendent believes that a license should be suspended or revoked and has reasonable grounds to support this finding, he/she may act within their authority to do so.

Any license to carry a handgun issued by another state or foreign country shall be valid within the scope of such license if the holder is not a resident of the state of Indiana.

Indiana state law is silent on the issue of carrying rifles and shotguns, outside of any exceptions or limitations during game seasons that may apply.

Unless a firearm or ammunition for that firearm requires a federal license for possession, no individual, government entity, or corporation may adopt or enforce any rule that prohibits an employee from lawfully possessing a firearm that is locked in the trunk of his/her personal vehicle and parked on his/her property or on company premises.

Machine Guns

Machine guns may be possessed by the following: members of the armed services, any approved government agency personnel, and law enforcement officers in the course of their duties; machine guns for display kept as relics that are inoperable and harmless; persons possessing a machine gun under U.S. statutes that apply, or have applied to possess a machine gun under those statutes given that the machine gun was transferred in full compliance with Indiana state law; and any person actively engaged in a business that involves machine guns while acting within the scope of their business.

It is illegal to manufacture, possess, give, lend, sell, or import a sawed-off shotgun with the exception of any law enforcement officer acting within his/her lawful duties or any manufacturer, importer or seller of sawed-off shotguns to law enforcement agencies.

Range Protection

If a shooting range complies with all laws or ordinances applicable at the time of construction or initial operation, a person who owns, operates, or uses the range may not be held liable whether civilly or criminally for any matter relating to noise as a result of normal operation of the facility.

14-22-31  5-1  As used in this chapter, "local unit of government" means a county, city, town, or township.
As added by P.L.134-1996, SEC.4.

14-22-31. 5-2  As used in this chapter, "person" means an individual, an association, a business entity, or a governmental entity.
As added by P.L.134-1996, SEC.4.

14-22-31. 5-3 “Shooting range” defined

Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, “shooting range” means an area designed and operated for the use of archery, rifles, shotguns, pistols, muskets, or similar firearms that are fired at silhouettes, skeet, trap, paper, stillboard, or other similar targets

14-22-31.  5-5  Except as specifically prohibited by this chapter, a local unit of government may regulate the location, use, operation, safety, and construction of a shooting range.
As added by P.L.134-1996, SEC.4.

14-22-31. 5-6  A person who owns, operates, or uses a shooting range is not liable in any civil or criminal matter relating to noise or noise pollution that results from the normal operation or use of the shooting range if the shooting range complies with a law or an ordinance that applied to the shooting range and its operation at the time of the construction or initial operation of the shooting range, if such a law or ordinance was in existence at the time of the construction or initial operation of the shooting range.

14-22-31. 5-7  Notwithstanding any ordinance adopted by a local unit of government, a shooting range that is in existence before July 1, 1996, may do the following within the geographic boundaries of the shooting range as it existed on June 30, 1996:
(1) Repair, remodel, or reinforce a building or structure that is needed to ensure public safety or to secure the continued use of the building or structure.
(2) Reconstruct, repair, restore, or resume the use of a nonconforming building that has been damaged by fire, collapse, explosion, act of nature, or war after July 1, 1996. However, the reconstruction, repair, or restoration must be completed not more than one (1) year after the date of the damage to the building or the settlement of the property damage claim. If the reconstruction, repair, or restoration is not completed within one (1) year, the local unit of government may terminate the continuation of the nonconforming use.
(3) Expand or increase the membership of the shooting range or opportunities for public participation at the shooting range.
As added by P.L.134-1996, SEC.4.

Indiana Concealed Carry Reciprocity

Miscellaneous

No local government may regulate the possession, ownership, sale, transfer, or transportation of firearms or ammunition.

All information necessary to acquire or renew a license to carry a handgun must be kept confidential, not to be published or open to public inspection, unless for a federal, state, or local investigation pertaining to a person applying for an initial license or renewal of an existing license.

A person shall not make any loan secured by a deposit, mortgage or promise of a handgun.

It is unlawful to change alter, remove, or destroy the manufacturer’s name, model, serial number or other identifying marker of any firearm, or possess such a firearm unless by exception of an applicable United States statute.

Any reckless, intentional act whereby an individual knowingly creates a substantial risk of serious bodily injury to another while armed with a deadly weapon, will be charged as a felony. It is further illegal, and a felony to “haze” another individual or engage in riot activity while armed with a deadly weapon.

It is illegal to manufacture, possess, or transfer any handgun ammunition “that has a metal core and an outer coating of plastic.” Plastic shot capsules, nylon-coated ammunition, or rifle or shotgun ammunition is exempt from this. This rule also does not apply to law enforcement personnel while engaged in their official duties, or manufacturers, sellers, or importers to law enforcement agencies.

It is illegal to shoot across or on any road.

It is illegal to discharge any firearm within the limits of a park under the jurisdiction of a county board unless designated as a hunting, firearm sport, or archery area.

Unless equipped with a key lock trigger mechanism which renders a firearm inoperable, or unloaded and locked in a case, no person may transport a firearm on an “off road vehicle” or a snowmobile.

Any student on school property in possession of a firearm shall be expelled.

A person may not bring legal action against any manufacturer of firearms or ammunition, trade association, or seller for damages, injunctive relief, or abatement of nuisance as it relates to the legal design, marketing or sale, of a firearm or ammunition, or for damages as a result of criminal or illegal use of a firearm or ammunition by any third party, with the exception of certain narrow circumstances.