A confidential source has informed this correspondent of events involving the Indiana Constitutional Carry legislation in 2022. The source claimed Senator Liz Brown (R) of Senate District 15 has been the major force blocking passage of Constitutional Carry. The source claimed Governor Holcombe wants the bill killed and is pushing Senator Brown to do the killing.
In particular, the source stated that Senator Liz Brown was adamant, and emotional in the Republican Caucus meeting on Thursday, March 3rd, denouncing a provision in HB 1077, which required minors who use a firearm in a crime to be tried as adults. The tactic was successful, with the Republican leadership bending to Brown's insistence the provision be removed from the bill.
This tactic may kill the bill. The Indiana legislature is on a very short time budget, with many bills to enact before the legislative session ends at midnight on Tuesday, March 8. To change the bill at this point requires the amendment be made, the bill then voted on in the Senate and passed. Then the bill has to be sent back to the House, voted on and passed, all before midnight on 8 March.
The source was disgusted, because Brown has attempted to show herself as a proponent of Constitutional Carry. The attempt at showing herself as a supporter is easily verified. On January 7, 2022, AP reported Senator Liz Brown is co-sponsoring a similar bill in the Senate.
The chairwoman of the state Senate committee that blocked the repeal effort last year is co-sponsoring a bill similar to the House proposal for this year’s session.
The source stated the Senate Republican leader, Rodric Bray, is now a supporter of passing the Constitutional Carry bill. This is partly confirmed by a member of Indianagunowners.
At about 5 a.m. on March 7, 2022, from KellyinAvon at indianagunowners.com:
Second link below is for Senate President Pro Tempore Bray. His Legislative Assistant (Kayla) is at 317-232-9416. Again polite, professional, "thank you for your support on SB 209 with House-passed HB 1077 language."
I think Senator Bray has "seen the light" on this issue. Calls of support also have the affect of letting him know we are paying attention.
This correspondent has seen similar situations in several other states, where a popular bill is effectively killed by one stubborn legislator, ideologically committed to a position, which they do not want their constituents to know about. Second Amendment activists worked hard to bring the bill up for a vote.
Delay is often used to kill bills. The vote in the Senate committee on House Bill 1077 was delayed until near the end of the session.
In Senator Liz Brown's case, the strong emotions she showed during the committee hearing on the bill showed she is ideologically committed against Constitutional Carry. She knows this costs her votes, so she works to disguise her position.
Politicians who commit to one position to gain votes, but work behind the scenes against their public position, are not uncommon.
It is a betrayal of public confidence. Deception of voters is a cornerstone of "Progressive" governance.
It is becoming harder and harder to deceive Second Amendment activists. They have learned to watch closely what a politician does, not just what they say.
Senator Brown's tactics may work. Constitutional Carry may again be defeated in the Indiana Senate.
Senator Brown is not the only Republican who holds responsibility if Constitutional Carry is killed, but she has a significant share.
Senator Brown is unopposed in the state primary election to be held on May 3, 2022. February 4th was the deadline for a candidate to file for the primary election. Senator Brown had two Republicans vote with her to gut the Constitutional Carry bill in the Judiciary Committee where she is the Chair. The three Republicans joined with 3 Democrats to gut the bill by amendment, with a vote of 6-5.
The two Republicans who joined with Senator Liz Brown were Senator Mike Bohacek of District 8 and Senator Susan Glick of District 13. They will not be up for re-election until 2024.
©2022 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.
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