Posted on 02/18/2011 7:55:37 AM PST by jaydubya2
The bill would allow people to carry a gun almost anywhere in Indiana. That means licensed gun owners would be able to bring their firearms into libraries, parks, and sports arenas, including Lucas Oil Stadium.
Indianapolis
Colts owner Jim Irsay held a news conference Thursday to voice his opposition to Senate Bill 292.
The bill would allow people to carry a gun almost anywhere in Indiana. That means licensed gun owners would be able to bring their firearms into libraries, parks, and sports arenas, including Lucas Oil Stadium.
"It's not taking an issue of bearing firearms or anything. It's about, just at the event, families knowing that people aren't carrying weapons into the game," Irsay said.
Irsay said he believes the team would be unable to prevent guns from coming into Lucas Oil Stadium because the bill trumps any local gun ordinances like the one enforced by the Capitol Improvement Board at Lucas Oil Stadium.
"There is an absolute prohibition against the CIB enforcing our very reasonable and legitimate concerns about people bringing firearms into the stadium," Colts Attorney Dan Emerson said.
“I know folks are trying to put more into this than what it is.”
Senator Jim Tomes sponsored the bill. He said it takes a burden off of gun owners by eliminating city ordinances that complicate the current state law. He said he does not believe it would impact the Colts or their fans because of the private agreement each ticketholder makes with the team.
“If they don't want you bringing alcohol in or firearms in or they want you there with a shirt on that's their rule and if you accept that ticket, you've accepted their terms,” he said.
"The practical problem is we don't enforce that. We rely on the CIB and their hired security people," Emerson said.
Team Lawyer Dan Emerson said he believes the current version of the law would mean those security people wouldn't be able to do their job, and he doesn't believe any event is exempt, even the Super Bowl.
"Not the way I read that bill. The Super Bowl is not expressly carved out of that bill. There is an absolute restriction on the CIB," Emerson said.
Despite the concern, the Colts said they believe lawmakers will at least tweak the bill in order to keep guns out of any future games.
"I think reasonable people will understand what our concerns are and where the feelings of the families and everyone else is," Irsay said.
Also libs hate that a carry license here is not very restrictive, basically all you have to do is not be a felon. The municpalities/sheriffs have no real say in it, all they do is take your fingerprints for state record with your license,the license itself comes from the state through the state police, we’re shall issue, no training requirement, concealed or open carry, we have lifetime licenses, the license is inexpensive, and we accept all other state carry licenses.
Pansies! The NRA is the OLDEST, and FAR AND AWAY the LARGEST, Civil Rights organization in the WORLD! It is exclusively dedicated to the USA’s 2nd Amendment!
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