Summary of Indiana Gun Laws
Indiana is a shall-issue state with permits being issued by the Indiana State Police.
There is no permit required to purchase a firearm, and firearms do not need to be registered. Only Indiana residents or residents of neighboring states who are at least 18 years old can buy long guns. To buy a handgun, you must be at least 21 years old and a resident of Indiana.
Open carry and concealed carry are legal in Indiana for residents with an Indiana License to Carry a Handgun (LCH) and for non-residents with any valid state license to carry. The Indiana LCH is valid for open, concealed and locked-case carry. The minimum age is 18 years old, and there is no requirement for firearms training. Applicants must be Indiana residents or have a regular place of business or employment in Indiana. Some areas are off-limits, including school property, school buses and riverboat casinos. In terms of reciprocity, Indiana honors permits from all states and jurisdictions.
Self-Defense
Indiana is a Castle Doctrine state and has a “stand your ground” law. There is no duty to retreat if deadly force is necessary to prevent serious bodily injury to the person or a third person or the commission of a forcible felony.
Defense of Self or Others
A person is justified in using reasonable force to protect the person or a third person from what the person reasonably believes to be the imminent use of unlawful force. However, a person is justified in using deadly force if the person reasonably believes that that force is necessary to prevent serious bodily injury to the person or a third person or the commission of a forcible felony.
Defense of Place
A person is justified in using reasonable force, including deadly force, and does not have a duty to retreat if the person reasonably believes that the force is necessary to prevent or terminate the other person’s unlawful entry of or attack on the person’s dwelling, curtilage or occupied motor vehicle.
Defense of Property
With respect to property other than a dwelling, curtilage, or an occupied motor vehicle, a person is justified in using reasonable force if the person reasonably believes that the force is necessary to immediately prevent or terminate the other person’s trespass on or criminal interference with property lawfully in the person’s possession, the possession of a member of the person’s immediate family, or belonging to a person whose property the person has authority to protect. However, a person is justified in using deadly force only if that force is justified.
Immunity
No person in this state shall be placed in legal jeopardy of any kind whatsoever for protecting the person or a third person by reasonable means necessary.
[Ind. Code § 35-41-3-2]
The information contained on this website is provided as a service to the concealed carry community, and does not constitute legal advice. Although we attempt to address all areas of concealed carry laws in Indiana, we make no claims, representations, warranties, promises or guarantees as to the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information disclosed. Legal advice must always be tailored to the individual facts and circumstances of each individual case. Laws are constantly changing, and as such, nothing contained on this website should be used as a substitute for the advice of a lawyer.