Latest news with #HouseBill1095
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill expanding gun rights for Oklahoma municipal employees heads to governor's desk
Rep. Derrick Hildebrant, R-Catoosa, is the author of a bill that would allow municipal employees and officials to carry firearms in municipal buildings. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY — House lawmakers on Wednesday sent a measure to the governor to allow elected officials to carry firearms at approved municipal buildings, despite concerns it could intimidate constituents. House Bill 1095 would allow elected municipal officials, including judges, with a valid firearm license to carry concealed guns in any building leased or owned by the city or town in their jurisdiction with the approval of a city council or governing board. The bill excludes locations that are used to process, hold or house prisoners or people under arrest, like courthouses, courtrooms, prisons, jails or detention facilities. Rep. Derrick Hildebrant, R-Catoosa, said this is already being done at the county level and this bill expands it to the city level. 'This is an option, so it's not a mandate,' he said. 'Any city council can designate firearm prohibited locations or not.' It could extend to a 'meter reader' being able to carry firearms, if they were designated by the city and working in their jurisdictional location, Hildebrant said. Rep. Michelle McCane, D-Tulsa, said she is worried this could intimidate constituents or make people feel uncomfortable talking to their elected officials. 'I want us to be safe. I want our municipal folks to be safe,' she said. 'But I worry that this broad of a bill kind of creates this environment where people might be intimidated. Not everybody is as supportive of guns and that can kind of be an intimidation factor.' Hildebrant said he has not received any negative feedback on this legislation from counties who have this measure in place. Rep. Nick Archer, R-Elk City, who voted in favor of it, said he was frustrated by the process he had to go through as former mayor of Elk City to carry a firearm at work. He said he was required to go through law enforcement training and earn armed security guard status to be able to carry his gun at city hall. The bill was previously amended by the Senate, but now heads to the governor after House lawmakers approved the amendments 70-15 along party lines. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Chicago Tribune
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
State crime task force bill receives final OK from Indiana Senate
A Lake County-focused House bill continues its streak of unanimous approval as the Senate voted to move it to Gov. Mike Braun's desk Monday. House Bill 1095 — authored by Rep. Earl Harris, D-East Chicago — would expand the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force area to include Lake County. The Senate approved the bill in a 46-0 vote Monday. Senate sponsors for the bill include Sens. Dan Dernulc, R-Highland; Rick Neimeyer, R-Lowell; and Mark Spencer, D-Gary. During the Senate meeting, Dernulc said House Bill 1095 builds on the crimes task force bill Rep. Greg Steuerwald, R-Avon, authored in 2021. Steuerwald's bill brought in eight counties from Central Indiana into the task force, he said. The task force brings together local and state police along with federal partners to track and remove illegal guns, investigate gun crimes and improve coordination between agencies, Dernulc said. In 2024, the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force investigated over 150 leads that resulted in the arrests of 232 people, the seizure of more than 270 illegal guns, and over 75,000 grams of drugs, Dernulc said. Last year, Rep. Martin Carbaugh, R-Fort Wayne, was able to ensure Allen County was added to the task force. This year, Dernulc said Lake County should be added to the task force. The bill had previously passed the House Veterans Affairs and Public Safety and Senate Corrections and Criminal Law committees. The Indiana Crime Guns Task Force was signed into law in 2021 and addresses violent crime in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan, Johnson and Shelby counties, according to the Indiana General Assembly's website. Harris previously told the Post-Tribune that the plan is to take the task force statewide. 'It's good when you talk about getting guns off the street and also it's helpful in terms of getting illegal narcotics off the street,' Harris had said. 'Wanting Lake County, where I live and represent, to be part of that as soon as possible is important to me.' After the vote, Harris stated that while homicides in Lake County have dropped in recent years, 'it's still imperative that we find ways to mitigate gun violence and enhance public safety in our community. This bill will help us get illegal guns and dangerous narcotics off our streets and make Lake County a safer place to live and raise a family.' He thanked his sponsors and added that he looked forward to working with Braun to get the legislation signed into law. Spencer also previously told the Post-Tribune that the task force will add value to Northwest Indiana, and he's encouraged by the success it's seen in other areas of the state. Harris has talked about the bill with Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez and other sheriff's officials. In a previous statement to the Post-Tribune, Martinez said the department supports the bill and is eager to receive more information. 'We look forward to this new level of cooperation and to being a part of an organization committed to removing illegal firearms from our communities,' he said. 'We hope this partnership will allow us to share critical resources, intelligence and technology to address gun-related violence in our community and across the state.' Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter also previously told the Post-Tribune that he supports the task force's expansion. He believes the task force will help better prosecute offenders. 'I am proud to be part of this effort, and my participation in the task force allows me to contribute my expertise in prosecuting gun-related crimes, ensuring we have a strong legal framework to tackle these issues,' Carter said. 'I urge lawmakers to pass this measure for the safety and well-being of all Hoosiers, including those in Lake County.'
Chicago Tribune
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Indiana crime task force expansion bill receives unanimous Senate support
After unanimous approval Tuesday, the Indiana Senate will soon vote on a House bill that would bring a state crime task force to Lake County. House Bill 1095 — authored by Rep. Earl Harris, D-East Chicago — would expand the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force area. Six state senators on the Corrections and Criminal Law committee voted for the bill, which also unanimously passed the House Veterans Affairs and Public Safety committee. The Indiana Crime Guns Task Force was signed into law in 2021 and addresses violent crime in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan, Johnson and Shelby counties, according to the Indiana General Assembly's website. After the committee hearing, Harris said Allen County was added to the task force two years ago. At that time, he offered an amendment when the House was discussing the bill for Lake County to join the task force. In response, Rep. Greg Steuerwald, R-Avon, who authored the bill creating the task force, and Rep. Martin Carbaugh, R-Fort Wayne, who authored the Allen County bill, told Harris that one county can join the task force at a time. Harris said he withdrew the amendment after receiving a promise from Steuerwald and Carbaugh that Lake County would be the next county added to the task force. 'The plan is to take this statewide,' Harris said. 'It's good when you talk about getting guns off the street and also it's helpful in terms of getting illegal narcotics off the street. Wanting Lake County, where I live and represent, to be a part of that as soon as possible is important to me.' Since filing the bill, Harris said he talked with Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez, and other sheriff's officials, about it. Sheriff's officials have been completely supportive of and are enthusiastic about Lake County being a part of this,' Harris said. In a statement to the Post-Tribune, Martinez said the sheriff's department supports the bill and is eager to receive more information on how it will work. The sheriff's department believes the task force will facilitate more cooperation between agencies, Martinez said in his statement. 'We look forward to this new level of cooperation and to being a part of an organization committed to removing illegal firearms from our communities,' Martinez said. 'We hope this partnership will allow us to share critical resources, intelligence and technology to address gun-related violence in our community and across the state.' Before the vote, Harris told Corrections and Criminal Law committee members that the Lake County Sheriff supported the program. In 2024, the task force investigated more than 150 cases that led to the arrest of 232 people, the seizure of more than 270 illegal firearms and 75,507 grams of illegal narcotics, according to a Jan. 30 news release from Harris. In a statement Tuesday, Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter said he fully supports the task force's expansion. Carter believes the involvement will help better prosecute offenders, his statement said. 'I am proud to be part of this effort, and my participation in the task force allows me to contribute my expertise in prosecuting gun-related crimes, ensuring we have a strong legal framework to tackle these issues,' Carter said. 'I urge lawmakers to pass this measure for the safety and well-being of all Hoosiers, including those in Lake County.' Sen. Mark Spencer, D-Gary, said it's important for legislators to take any action they can to curb gun violence. Spencer is one of House Bill 1095's sponsors. Sens. Dan Dernulc, R-Highland, and Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell, also sponsored the bill. The task force will add value to the whole community, Spencer said. He's also encouraged by the success it has seen in other areas of the state. 'That's always a plus,' Spencer said. 'It gives you the confidence that it can bear fruit or it could be a value added for our region.' Dernulc is pleased to know other representatives see the value of adding Lake County to the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force, he said Tuesday. He's also encouraged by the unanimous support the bill has received, and Dernulc said he expects that trend to continue. 'This (bill) is just common sense,' Dernulc said. 'I look forward to the governor signing it.'
Chicago Tribune
04-02-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
House bill to expand crime task force into Lake County moves to Senate
A bill that would expand a crime task force has received a unanimous vote from the Indiana House of Representatives and moved to the Senate. House Bill 1095 would allow the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force area to include Lake County. Rep. Earl Harris, D-East Chicago, authored the bill, which was on the House floor Tuesday afternoon. The bill received 89 votes for passage Tuesday afternoon. House Bill 1095 also received unanimous support from the Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Committee on Jan. 30. The Indiana Crime Guns Task Force was signed into law in 2021 and addresses violent crime in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan, Johnson and Shelby counties, according to the Indiana General Assembly website. The task force expanded into Allen County two years ago, Harris said Tuesday. 'Part of the plan with the Crime Guns Task Force was to expand it throughout the state,' Harris said. 'House Bill 1095 aims to add Lake County to the task force.' Rep. Gregory Steuerwald, R-Danville, is one of the bill's co-authors and told the House that the task force has been successful since it was created. 'The plan has always been to take this statewide,' he said. 'There's been over 20-some cities from across the country that have come here to visit this crime gun task force location. It is knocking it out of the park.' In 2024, the task force investigated more than 150 cases that led to the arrest of 232 people, the seizure of more than 270 illegal firearms and 75,507 grams of illegal narcotics, according to a Jan. 30 news release from Harris. The Lake County Coroner's Office investigated 65 homicides last year, according to the news release. 'The task force would give Lake County the chance to clean up our streets, providing additional resources to connect guns to other crimes throughout the region,' Harris said. 'Statistically speaking, we see a trend in the right direction for gun crimes in Lake County; we just want people to feel those statistics and I believe the expansion of this task force would keep trends flowing in the right direction enough for residents to feel a difference.' Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter said in a statement that expanding the task force 'is a critical step in addressing the flow of illegal firearms and reducing violent crime in our communities,' according to Post-Tribune archives. Carter fully supports the bill and urges lawmakers to pass it. Gary Police Chief Derrick Cannon said he's pleased to see the General Assembly taking these steps, according to Post-Tribune archives. The city's police department plans to fully collaborate with the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force if the legislation passes. Gary led Lake County's homicide numbers for 2024, according to information from the coroner's office. Of the county's 65 homicide deaths last year, 24 victims died in Gary. Harris' news release also highlighted East Chicago and Hammond as areas that would benefit from the expanded task force. Lake County coroner statistics said Hammond had 13 homicide deaths in 2024, and East Chicago had four homicide deaths. As of Tuesday afternoon, the Indiana General Assembly website did not say when the Senate will vote on House Bill 1095.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Indiana House bill to expand crime task force into Lake County advanced to floor
A bill that aims to expand a task force to Lake County has advanced to the Indiana House of Representatives floor. House Bill 1095 would allow the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force area to include Lake County. Rep. Earl Harris, D-East Chicago, authored the bill, which received a unanimous vote on Thursday by the Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Committee. 'The task force would give Lake County the chance to clean up our streets, providing additional resources to connect guns to other crimes throughout the region,' Harris said in a statement following Thursday's vote. 'Statistically speaking, we see a trend in the right direction for gun crimes in Lake County; we just want people to feel those statistics and I believe the expansion of this task force would keep trends flowing in the right direction enough for residents to feel a difference.' The Lake County Coroner's Office investigated 65 homicides last year, Harris's statement said. The Indiana Crime Guns Task Force was signed into law in 2021 and addresses violent crime in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan, Johnson and Shelby counties, according to the Indiana General Assembly website. In 2024, the task force investigated more than 150 cases that led to the arrest of 232 people, the seizure of more than 270 illegal firearms and 75,507 grams of illegal narcotics, according to a news release from Harris. The task force has an executive board that consists of the chief of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, the Indiana State Police Superintendent and a sheriff or police chief from each department covered by the group, according to Indiana code. Current law requires five board members for a quorum during business, but House Bill 1095 would increase the number to seven. Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter said in a statement that expanding the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force to include Lake County 'is a critical step in addressing the flow of illegal firearms and reducing violent crime in our communities.' 'By broadening the task force's reach, we strengthen our ability to track and prosecute those persons responsible for gun-related offenses. Additionally, the adjustments to the executive boards' quorum and voting procedures will ensure more effective governance and decision-making,' Carter said. Carter said that he fully supports the bill and urged lawmakers to pass it. A Thursday news release highlighted Gary, East Chicago and Hammond as areas that would benefit from the expanded task force. Representatives from East Chicago and Hammond's police departments were unable to provide a statement for this story. Gary Police Chief Derrick Cannon said in a statement that he's pleased to see the General Assembly taking these steps. The city's police department has not been contacted about the legislation, Cannon said. 'For years, the Gary Police Department has worked diligently to prevent the circulation of illegal guns within our community,' Cannon said in his statement. 'If this legislation passes, the City of Gary looks forward to fully collaborating with the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force.' Cannon added that the Gary police work with other agencies, including the FBI; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; and High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program. Gary led Lake County's homicide numbers for 2024, according to information from the coroner's office. Of the county's 65 homicide deaths in 2024, 24 victims died in Gary. The city's police department said in a Jan. 10 news release that Gary saw 40 homicides in 2024, which is a 23% decline from 52 in 2023. Last year, the city had its lowest number recorded since 2018, according to the news release. 'I believe it's a move in a positive direction,' Cannon previously told the Post-Tribune. 'The citizens make sure that when we receive information, we're being held accountable and making sure that we do something about it. I think this was a record year for the police department in a few categories, and I'm hoping to maintain that momentum going forward in 2025.' Hammond had 10 homicides in 2024, according to Cpt. Steve Kellogg, but coroner statistics said 13 homicides occurred in the city. East Chicago had four homicides in 2024, according to coroner statistics and Police Chief Jose Rivera. The Indiana House's next session is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Monday. As of Friday, the general assembly's website did not say when the floor is expected to hear House Bill 1095. mwilkins@
