Indiana Constitutional Carry, Explained: What Changed and What Didn’t

What Changed on July 1, 2022

House Enrolled Act 1296 removed the requirement to hold a License to Carry Handgun (LTCH) in order to carry a handgun in public in Indiana. Eligible adults — generally those 18 and older who are not prohibited persons — may now carry openly or concealed without a permit. That's the change. Everything else people attach to the phrase "constitutional carry" tends to be myth.

What Did NOT Change

• Buying rules are identical. Dealer purchases still require the ATF Form 4473 and NICS background check. Permitless carry has nothing to do with purchasing.
• Prohibited persons are still prohibited. If you can't lawfully possess a handgun, you can't carry one — the statute explicitly excludes prohibited carriers.
• Location restrictions still apply. Schools, secured areas of airports, certain government facilities, and private property that forbids firearms remain off-limits.
• Other states don't care about Indiana's law. Cross into Illinois with a concealed handgun and you're subject to Illinois law, which requires an Illinois CCL (and recognizes no Indiana equivalent for residents of other states in most contexts). Border-town carriers: know exactly where you are.

Why the License to Carry Still Exists — and Why You Might Want One

Indiana still issues the LTCH, and there are practical reasons to get it:

1. Reciprocity: many states honor an Indiana LTCH, giving you lawful carry options when traveling. Permitless carry stops at the state line; a license travels.
2. Purchase convenience in some scenarios and smoother interactions where a state-issued firearms credential is useful documentation.
3. It's inexpensive: Indiana eliminated fees for the five-year license.

Carry Responsibly

Legal authority to carry is not competence to carry. Seek quality training, know Indiana's use-of-force law, and carry in a proper holster that protects the trigger. If you're new to carrying, mention it at your appointment — we'll point you toward reputable training in Northwest Indiana and set you up with a holster that actually fits your firearm.