The purpose of this memo is to propose new, bipartisan legislation to the Indiana State legislature in regard to gun safety and regulation. This report is based on the "In the Crossfire: Guns, Legislative Leadership and Recall Politics in Colorado," written and published by the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. I recommend the Indiana State Republicans create a bipartisan coalition to adopt new gun laws that cover expanding background checks, mandating private firearm sales and establishing a mandatory waiting period.
Facts
The gun control debate is one of the most heated and controversial topics in American politics right now. After each mass shooting and many innocent individuals' lives are lost, the push for new gun legislation flares…show more content… In fact, 54% of all Americans support the idea of stricter gun laws in general . According to a recent Quinnipiac Poll, support for universal background checks has reached an all-time high - 97% support. An additional 83% of respondents approve of imposing mandatory waiting periods for all gun purchases .
Analysis
The State of Indiana should respond to the growing support for common sense gun regulation and establish a precedent for other Republican states. The State Senate and House should first create a bipartisan coalition to champion the bills and garner support on both sides of the aisle. Once this is completed, Indiana Legislators should propose expanding background checks for all firearm purchases, including private sales. As previously mentioned, Americans overwhelmingly approve of this effort and will provide a path towards debating the other issues. Once the background check bill has passed, I recommend the Indiana Legislature move on to other widely supported measures, such as mandatory waiting periods and even potentially raising the minimum age requirement to 21. Though these efforts will be more difficult to pass, they still allow both conservatives and liberals to come together on common
