The Indiana House of Representatives approved legislation Monday that would eliminate handgun licensing in the state.

Current Indiana law requires individuals to apply for a handgun license. Individuals must fill out an application, submit their fingerprints and complete local law enforcement agency processing. In 2020, 121,863 applicants were approved. Only 4,495 applicants were rejected.

House Bill 1369, which was approved in the house by a vote of 65 to 31, would repeal the law requiring an individual to obtain a license to carry a handgun in Indiana. It specifies that this would apply only to certain individuals not otherwise prohibited from carrying or possessing a handgun.

It would also create the crime of “unlawful carrying of a handgun.” Prohibited individuals knowingly or intentionally carrying a handgun would be charged with a Class A misdemeanor. “Unlawful carrying of a handgun” could also become a Level 5 felony under certain conditions. The bill would also allow for additional fixed imprisonment terms for individuals who knowingly or intentionally point or discharge a firearm at someone the person knew or reasonably should have known was a first responder.

The bill would also provide for reciprocity agreements between other states to allow Indiana residents to carry firearms in other states.

The state police have opposed the bill, because handgun licenses fees raise $5.3 million per year to train local law enforcement officers. It is anticipated that taxpayers will have to contribute to these costs.

The bill was referred to the state senate on Tuesday. If passed by the Senate, the bill would become effective March 30, 2022.