Indiana is not a constitutional carry state, and the possession of firearms without a state permit is illegal. The state has a shall-issue policy, and even if you meet all requirements provided by gun laws, you will be issued a gun license. The state police department is in charge of issuing gun licenses in Indiana.

The state does not issue a purchase permit to buy firearms. However only residents of the state and residents of states that share boundaries with Indiana can purchase long guns within the territory. The age requirement to purchase handguns in Indiana is a minimum of 21 years old, and only residents of the state are allowed to purchase firearms within the state.

Possession of Firearms in Indiana

You can open carry firearms in Indiana if you have the state’s gun license also known as Indiana’s license to carry a handgun. The license is also used for concealed carry in the state, and the possession of firearms in any locked compartments.

Only residents of Indiana that are eighteen or more are allowed to apply for the state firearm license. Unlike most states in the USA, Indiana gun laws do not require you to complete firearm training or any other course before you can apply for a gun permit. Non-residents that Indiana allows to apply for the gun license are those that are employed or have personal business in the state. Other nonresidents can make use of gun licenses from other states since Indiana will accept permits from all regions of the US.

Anybody that has an Indiana gun license can carry firearms in a personally owned vehicle or another person’s vehicle, with consent. Without an Indiana gun permit, the firearm must not be loaded and locked away in a compartment in the vehicle. Indiana gun law permits the possession of firearms in roadside areas as long as the person is a permit holder.

Indiana DNR allows the possession of firearms in parks and forests except those owned by the Army corps or anyone that falls into Ohio’s territory. The state also allows concealed carry of firearms in restaurant and bar areas for permit holders. The only prohibition to this is if there is a post prohibiting the possession of firearms in that area.

Indiana does not have any law prohibiting the possession of firearms in hotels or similar establishments. However, hotel management has the authority to enact gun laws and policies for the possession of weapons within their premises. Therefore, you must make inquiries from the hotel before carrying firearms within the premises.

According to gun laws in Indiana, employees are not allowed to enact rules or policies that prohibit or restrict the possession of firearms or ammunition in a locked car trunk or within an employer’s vehicle, as long as it is out of sight from public view. However, this restriction does not apply to places such as schools or any other private property.

Places Where You Cannot Possess Firearms Indiana

Indiana restricts the possession of firearms in some parts of the state.

• You cannot conceal carry within school facilities, and this includes elementary schools, secondary schools, and colleges.
• You cannot conceal carry within the premises of a children care building or a daycare center.
• You cannot conceal carry in buildings or facilities that are used by the state’s law enforcement agencies.
• You cannot conceal carry during an election or in any polling unit.
• You cannot conceal carry within the premises of a prison, jail, or any other state correctional facility.
• You cannot conceal carry within the premises of a courthouse and this includes administrative offices, the courtroom, and libraries.
• You cannot conceal carry during a meeting of local government officials or that of the committee of the general assembly.
• You cannot conceal carry in certain areas of an airport that is under the control of inspection officers.
• You cannot conceal carry within a building or property that is either owned, rented, or leased by the state government, counties, or municipalities.
• You cannot conceal carry in areas that have been restricted by federal laws.

Application for Indiana Gun License

The first step to applying for an Indiana gun license is to complete an online application form. Ninety days after completing the form, you can then proceed with the application procedures. First, schedule an appointment and have your fingerprints taken electronically. Then you visit the local sheriff’s office or a local police station with your permit application number and the required fee.

The local licensing authority of a county will transfer the permit application to the state police department for a final review. After the review, you will receive a mail about the status of your application.

Indiana gun license is valid for five years. For renewal of your Indiana gun license, you need to first complete the application license online through the licensing portal. Then schedule an appointment to have your fingerprint electronically taken. You must visit a local law enforcement agency to proceed with the application within ninety days of completing the online form. The necessary documents to take along are your license application number and the required fee for a renewal permit in Indiana.

Indiana does not charge any fee for the application of a five-year permit in the state. Anybody that is applying for a lifetime permit and does not have an existing gun license prior will pay fifty dollars. Anyone that has a license permit before will pay fifty dollars for the lifetime permit.

Non-residents that want to apply for an Indiana gun license can do so at the sheriff’s office of a local county where the business place is. The documents required for this are an out-of-state affidavit form that has been notarized, and a letter headed proof of employment from the company.

For any change of detail or update of Indiana, pistol permits visit the online portal and follow necessary instructions for an update of information. In case of cases of theft or missing permit, you have to apply for a renewal permit, Visit the online portal and follow the necessary steps for a duplicate permit

Also, as soon as you establish residency in Indiana, you can begin the application for the pistol permit in the state and you cannot make use of Indiana gun license in any state, except there is a reciprocity agreement with such a state.

Requirements for the Application of Gun License in Indiana

It is compulsory that you meet all state requirements before your gun license application in Indiana is approved.

• You must be at least eighteen years old to apply for an Indian gun permit.
• You must state a genuine reason for the possession of firearms in the state, and this could be for self-defense.
• You must have good character and be reputable.
• You must be a legal citizen of the United States of America. If you are a non-citizen, you must have permission to possess firearms in the country.
• You must not have any conviction for resisting a law enforcement officer in the last five years before applying for the permit.
• You must not have any conviction for a crime that carries a sentence of more than one year.
• You must not have a conviction or any domestic crime, except a judge restores your right to make use of firearms.
• You must not have any prohibition for the possession of firearms, issued by a court of law.
• You must not have any history of being a habitual alcohol user or drug abuser in Indiana.
• You must not have any history of being a person that is emotionally unstable or has the propensity to commit a violent act.
• You must not falsify any form of Indiana gun law application.
• You must not have any conviction for a crime that has to do with the safe handling of firearms in the state.
• You must not have any conviction to violate article forty-seven of Indiana gun law for at least five years before application.
• You must not commit a crime in a juvenile, which is equivalent to a felony for anyone that is of legal age.
• You must not be subject to any commitment for a while in the state.
• You must not be guilty of any mental incompetence or an insanity illness in the state.
• You must not have any felony convictions in the state.
• You must not be under arrest for any class A or B felony that involves the use of firearms in the state, such that you face a court prosecution.
• You must not have a suspended license to possess a firearm in the state, except a court of law lifts the suspension.
• You must meet all federal law requirements for the application of a pistol permit in the state.

Is Constitutional Carry Indiana Allowed in Every Parts of the State?

Indiana is a preemption gun law state with the government having the authority to regulate the use and possession of firearms.

According to gun codes of the state, no arm of government asides from the state government is allowed to make any form of regulation that affects the transportation, taxation, possession, ownership, registration, and storage of firearms.

This means that no municipality, county, or political subdivision can make permitless carry Indiana legal within their territory.

Additional Resources

Indiana Gun Laws
Indiana Concealed Carry Laws
Indiana Open Carry Laws
Indiana Gun Permit Laws