brotherbill3
Master
The House committee on Public Policy (Rep. Dermody chairing) today heard SB 229, Sen. Jim Tomes' bill to end "gun buybacks" in Indiana. Sen. Tomes spoke, as did a sheriff (I didn't catch his name), and a representative of the FWPD, as well as a representative of the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns (I think that's the right name). Each of them had some problem with the bill. The sheriff wanted to keep the ability to decide which guns to sell and which to destroy. The FWPD wanted the same. The Cities and towns guy made a claim that this bill "infringed upon home rule".
Meanwhile, there was also an argument from the ISRPA, favoring this bill.
As with 1048, they did not vote today on it. I suspect that will happen next week, but I don't know that.
Keep in mind, though, this was where 1048 fell, when a murder was committed. In short... let's keep those polite, civil letters and calls coming in. There's not much telling what legislators will do at this point. The session is almost over. Let's keep what we want at the forefront of their minds!
Blessings,
Bill
Good Summary B.o.R. ... (where you there? I sat in the back ... quietly taking notes listening) ...
Add this: the Sherriff and FW staff member (notes not handy A.T.M.) ... both indicated they were concerned about low value guns ending up being 'stockpiled' ... ones that would be sold for scrap;
also: the sheriff indicated that the ones to be destroyed - are sold - and a company takes them and does this for them. - there is $$ coming in there;
the IACT guy was just trying to stand up for allowing it due to home rule even though everyone else said it is a waste; the sheriff, the FW staff member said FW Chief thinks so too., etc. So IACT want the option of BB programs left so Mayors can waste taxpayer money. great.
Lots of discussion of New Albany Buy Back a few years ago - where $50K of a City Grant was spent on 'junk' ... meanwhile others in line were swapping, buying selling other guns in private transactions. ...
They did say the committee would meet Tuesday 2/25, though no schedule or agenda is up yet - so who knows. Spot on that this is where HB 1048 was left hanging. I am hopeful that someone will push this into the floor for a vote this session, but that remains to be seen; so for all intense purposes the HB's are all dead.
I did see that SJR 9 and SB 169 are up before the House Judiciary and House Courts and Criminal Code Committees, respectively, on Monday 2/24.