Lawmakers urge veto of guns in cars bill

INDIANAPOLIS | Two Northwest Indiana lawmakers urged Gov. Mitch Daniels on Monday to veto legislation approved by the Senate Thursday allowing Hoosiers to keep guns in their cars while at work.

State Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago, and state Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Ogden Dunes, both took to the Senate floor to say Indiana can prevent crimes similar to Friday's Portage shooting if Daniels vetoes House Bill 1065.

"I don't know whether or not we utilized good judgment when we passed this bill," Randolph said. "I'm hoping that our governor is a lot more wise than I think that we were."

The legislation permits employees to keep guns in their cars while at work, regardless of whether their employers want guns on their property. The measure includes exemptions for child care facilities, schools, shelters and similar sites where guns in cars could still be banned.

Both Randolph and Tallian voted against the measure. It was approved on Thursday in the Senate, 41-9, and in the House, 75-20.

House Bill 1065 is ready to go to the governor. Once it is formally signed by the leaders of both chambers, the governor will have one week to decide whether to sign it, let it become law without his signature or veto the proposal.

Speaking to reporters before the Portage shooting on Friday, Daniels said he wants to read the final text of the legislation before commenting on what he might do with it.

"My understanding is that there were some adjustments made that were responsive to those concerned about homeland security and likely targets. But no comment until I've really looked at it," Daniels said.

Daniels was still waiting on the General Assembly to send him the legislation before commenting, a spokeswoman for the governor said Monday.

If Daniels signs the bill, it could face a challenge in court.

"We already have businesses so upset and outraged, they may be willing to challenge its constitutionality," said Kevin Brinegar, Indiana Chamber of Commerce president.

The group has lobbied against such legislation "actively and aggressively" for the last three years, and Friday's incident at administrative offices of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development in Portage is an example of why business owners oppose such legislation. The exceptions attached to the legislation are "not to our satisfaction," he said, adding that business officials are continuing to lobby the governor to veto the bill.

"They have a responsibility to create as safe a working environment as possible," said Brinegar, adding that business owners have a responsibility for what is on their property.

It is a Fourth Amendment property rights issue, he said, which they believe trumps Second Amendment issues to carry firearms.

"If this law were in place, more people would bring weapons to work," he said and that could lead to more shootings of the type that occurred in Portage.

-- Times staff writer Joyce Russell contributed to this report.