Would the streets of Indianapolis be safer if guns, or at least certain types of them, were harder to obtain?
This is a question that many people have asked throughout the years, but it was brought to the forefront again recently with a survey that shows most Indiana residents support new laws to curb the spread of guns that can be used in criminal activity.
Eighty-three percent of residents favor background checks for gun sales, while 65 percent support the use of a federal database of registered gun owners, and 54 percent favor a ban on assault weapons.
These results were based on a survey conducted by the Bowen Center for Public Affairs at Ball State University and WISH-TV, which was designed to identify Indiana residents’ top priorities for the next session of the state government.
“In every case, the number of Hoosiers who are supportive of gun control measures, are just within a couple of percentage points of the national average,” said Joe Losco, a political scientist at Ball State University.
Gun violence is especially an issue of major concern in the African-American community. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 42 percent of African-Americans knew someone who had been shot, more than double the general population.
“Reducing gun violence has to be the No. 1 priority of the Black community,” said Rev. Charles Harrison, pastor of Barnes United Methodist Church and a leader of the Ten Point Coalition, an alliance of faith-based leaders and concerned individuals dedicated to stopping violence. “That’s where we need to get our city to put more of our resources.”
Nationally, efforts to curb gun violence became a priority, at least temporarily, for President Barack Obama’s administration, which proposed several sweeping measures, largely as a result of the mass shooting that killed 27 people, mostly children, in Newtown, Conn., last December.
In Indiana, the purchasing of firearms is granted to those over the age of 18. The only exception instituted is if a minor with the proper consent by a parent or guardian wishes to purchase a firearm.
It is illegal under state law to allow for the selling or purchasing of a firearm to a convicted felon, or an individual addicted to drugs or alcohol. Those that are not mentally proficient to handle a firearm are also prohibited from purchasing firearms.
However, firearms are not subject to any form of Indiana licensing, and the registration of guns or their owners is not necessary under Indiana law.
Despite increasing support for gun control measures among Indiana residents, it seems unlikely that any significant legislation will be passed by the Indiana Legislature, dominated by Republicans.
State Sen. Lonnie Randolph, chairman of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus, believes the GOP majority will be most focused on pushing amendments related to a constitutional convention and same-sex marriage, instead of issues like jobs, education, mental health and crime.
“They will push those two amendments,” said Randolph, an East Chicago Democrat.
However, he added, IBLC members have been consistently in support of efforts to reduce gun violence such as background checks and restrictions on assault style weapons.
“We have always been supportive of those issues,” Randolph said.
Harrison believes a plan to make sure every gun buyer has to be registered is a good priority.
“Universal gun licensing is the best approach to reducing the flow of guns, particularly in urban settings,” said Harrison.
As a side note, results of the Ball State/WISH-TV survey found that jobs remained a top priority for the General Assembly, selected by 83 percent of Hoosiers surveyed, followed by improvement to schools (73 percent) and affordable health care (59 percent).
