Good news out of Indiana, folks! Governor Mike Braun just signed Senate Enrolled Act 176 into law, and it's a game-changer for anyone who wants to open a gun shop or shooting range in the Hoosier State.
Basically, this new law tells local governments to back off of their discriminatory zoning games. You know how it goes — anti-gun city councils and county boards have been using zoning regulations as a weapon to push firearm retailers and ranges out of commercial areas, forcing them into remote industrial parks where nobody can find them. That ends now.
Under SEA 176, indoor shooting ranges and gun shops can now set up in areas already zoned for commercial, industrial or agricultural use — no special hearings, no jumping through extra hoops. Existing ranges can do maintenance and upgrades without needing a whole new permit. And local governments can't slap on ridiculous conditions like annexation requirements to stall approvals.
This is exactly the kind of law we need more of — government getting OUT of the way of our Second Amendment rights rather than piling on more restrictions. The NSSF called this a "vital step," and I couldn't agree more. Law-abiding Hoosiers deserve access to quality ranges and retailers, not some hidden-away back corner of an industrial zone.
The law goes into effect July 1, 2026. If you've been thinking about opening a shop or expanding a range in Indiana, the clock is ticking.
Let's hope more states follow Indiana's lead.