Gun Laws Indiana

Overview: As of June 2025, Indiana has implemented significant changes to its firearm laws, enhancing Second Amendment rights while introducing new regulations. Effective July 1, 2025, House Bill 1050 eliminates the requirement for residents aged 18 and older to obtain a permit to carry a handgun, allowing permitless concealed and open carry . This move aligns with the state’s 2022 constitutional carry law, which legalized permitless carry for both residents and non-residents aged 18 and older.

Indiana Gun Laws
Carry Information
Legal & Resources

Question	Answer
Does Indiana have an Assault Weapons Ban?	🚫 No. Indiana does not ban assault weapons or high-capacity magazines.
Are background checks required for private gun sales?	🚫 No. Idaho does not require background checks on private transfers, including at gun shows.
Are background checks required through FFL dealers?	✅ Yes. Federal law requires NICS checks on sales by licensed dealers.
Is Indiana a Stand Your Ground state?	✅ Yes. Indiana has both Stand Your Ground and Castle Doctrine protections.
What kind of restrictions does Indiana have?	ℹ️ No waiting periods ℹ️ No registration of firearms ℹ️ Permitless carry allowed as of July 1, 2022 ℹ️ Federal restrictions still apply (e.g., prohibited persons)
Does Indiana have any gun storage laws?	🚫 No. There is no general safe storage law, though child access prevention may apply in some cases.
Can you buy firearms in bulk in Indiana?	✅ Yes. Indiana does not restrict bulk firearm purchases.
Does Indiana have a red flag law?	✅ Yes. Indiana has a red flag law allowing temporary firearm removal by court order (aka “Jake Laird Law”).
Age to purchase firearms?	ℹ️ 18+ for long guns, ℹ️ 21+ for handguns from dealers.
Do I have to register my guns in Indiana?	🚫 No. Indiana does not require firearm registration.
Do I need a permit to purchase a handgun?	🚫 No. Indiana does not require a purchase permit.
Does Indiana have a waiting period for firearms?	🚫 No. There is no mandatory waiting period.

Does Indiana have an Assault Weapons Ban?

🚫 No. Indiana does not ban assault weapons or high-capacity magazines.

Are background checks required for private gun sales?

🚫 No. Idaho does not require background checks on private transfers, including at gun shows.

Are background checks required through FFL dealers?

✅ Yes. Federal law requires NICS checks on sales by licensed dealers.

Is Indiana a Stand Your Ground state?

✅ Yes. Indiana has both Stand Your Ground and Castle Doctrine protections.

What kind of restrictions does Indiana have?

ℹ️ No waiting periods
ℹ️ No registration of firearms
ℹ️ Permitless carry allowed as of July 1, 2022
ℹ️ Federal restrictions still apply (e.g., prohibited persons)

Does Indiana have any gun storage laws?

🚫 No. There is no general safe storage law, though child access prevention may apply in some cases.

Can you buy firearms in bulk in Indiana?

✅ Yes. Indiana does not restrict bulk firearm purchases.

Does Indiana have a red flag law?

✅ Yes. Indiana has a red flag law allowing temporary firearm removal by court order (aka “Jake Laird Law”).

Age to purchase firearms?

ℹ️ 18+ for long guns,
ℹ️ 21+ for handguns from dealers.

Do I have to register my guns in Indiana?

🚫 No. Indiana does not require firearm registration.

Do I need a permit to purchase a handgun?

🚫 No. Indiana does not require a purchase permit.

Does Indiana have a waiting period for firearms?

🚫 No. There is no mandatory waiting period.

Question	Answer
Does Indiana allow Open Carry?	✅ Legal without a permit. Indiana does not prohibit open carry.
Does Indiana allow Concealed Carry?	✅ Legal without a permit. As of July 1, 2022, permitless carry is allowed for eligible individuals.
Non‑Lethal Weapons?	✅ Legal. Pepper spray and stun guns are permitted for self-defense.
Places allowed to carry?	✅ Most public spaces, private property (with consent), and vehicles.
Places not allowed to carry?	🚫 Schools, federal buildings, courts, airports, and posted restricted areas.
States honored?	✅ Indiana honors permits from all states.
States reciprocate?	✅ These 32 states recognize Indiana’s handgun license Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas Colorado Florida Georgia Idaho Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Michigan Mississippi Missouri Montana New Hampshire North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Pennsylvania South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming ⚠️ Some states have residency or permit-type conditions. Always verify before travel.
Permit duration & renewal?	ℹ️ a 5 year handgun license and a lifetime handgun license are available.
Can you conceal anything other than a handgun?	🚫 No. Only handguns are subject to concealed carry provisions.
Permit Licensure?	ℹ️ Optional. Permits are still issued for reciprocity with other states. the Indiana State Police (ISP) issues concealed carry permits. While local law enforcement agencies (sheriffs or municipal police) process applications, the ISP makes the final decision and issues the permit.

Does Indiana allow Open Carry?

✅ Legal without a permit. Indiana does not prohibit open carry.

Does Indiana allow Concealed Carry?

✅ Legal without a permit. As of July 1, 2022, permitless carry is allowed for eligible individuals.

Non‑Lethal Weapons?

✅ Legal. Pepper spray and stun guns are permitted for self-defense.

Places allowed to carry?

✅ Most public spaces, private property (with consent), and vehicles.

Places not allowed to carry?

🚫 Schools, federal buildings, courts, airports, and posted restricted areas.

States honored?

✅ Indiana honors permits from all states.

States reciprocate?

✅ These 32 states recognize Indiana’s handgun license

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
Colorado
Florida
Georgia
Idaho

Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Michigan
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana

New Hampshire
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
South Dakota
Tennessee

Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

⚠️ Some states have residency or permit-type conditions. Always verify before travel.

Permit duration & renewal?

ℹ️ a 5 year handgun license and a lifetime handgun license are available.

Can you conceal anything other than a handgun?

🚫 No. Only handguns are subject to concealed carry provisions.

Permit Licensure?

ℹ️ Optional. Permits are still issued for reciprocity with other states. the Indiana State Police (ISP) issues concealed carry permits. While local law enforcement agencies (sheriffs or municipal police) process applications, the ISP makes the final decision and issues the permit.

Resources	Links
Official Licensing & State Info	Indiana State Police – Firearms Licensing Portal ISP – Firearms FAQ (PDF)
Gun Laws & Statutes	Indiana Code Title 35, Article 47 – Weapons and Instruments of Violence HandgunLaw.us – Indiana Law Summary
Training & Safety Courses	Indiana Gun Classes – Basic & Advanced Training Top Guns Training – Permitless Carry & Safety Education
Gun Safety & Storage	Project ChildSafe – Safe Storage & Gun Locks Be SMART – Child Access Prevention Education