Indiana Gun Laws 2026: A Plain-English Guide

Indiana gun laws at a glance

Indiana does not require a permit to buy a gun, does not register guns, and has no waiting period. Since July 1, 2022, most adults can carry a handgun, openly or concealed, without a license. Federal law still applies on top of state law, so dealers run a background check on every sale and certain people can’t own guns at all.

Can you carry without a permit in Indiana?

Yes. House Enrolled Act 1296 took effect July 1, 2022 and made the license to carry a handgun optional. Under IC 35-47-2-1.5, you can carry as long as you are not a prohibited person. The list includes people convicted of a felony, people convicted of domestic violence, domestic battery or criminal stalking without restored rights, people under a protective order, fugitives, people under indictment, people adjudicated dangerous or mentally defective or committed to a mental institution, people dishonorably discharged, people who renounced U.S. citizenship, people in the country unlawfully, and anyone under 18. Carrying while prohibited is a Class A misdemeanor, and it becomes a Level 5 felony in some cases, such as on or near school property. Our permitless carry guide covers the details.

Is the Indiana license to carry still worth getting?

For many people, yes. The license is free from the state. The Indiana State Police say it helps you confirm you are not a prohibited person, and it matters when you travel, because some states only let visitors carry with a home-state license. See license to carry and reciprocity.

Buying a gun in Indiana

You can walk into a licensed dealer, fill out ATF Form 4473, pass the NICS background check and leave with your gun the same day. Federal law sets the ages: 21 to buy a handgun from a dealer and 18 to buy a rifle or shotgun from a dealer. Indiana law separately requires dealers to complete the 4473 and get NICS approval before transferring a handgun (IC 35-47-2.5-4). Read how to buy a gun in Indiana for the step-by-step.

Private sales between two Indiana residents do not require a background check under Indiana law, but it is still a crime to transfer a handgun to someone you know can’t legally have one (IC 35-47-2-7). See private gun sales in Indiana.

What guns are legal in Indiana?

Indiana has no state assault weapon ban and no magazine capacity limit, so AR-15s and semi-automatic AK-pattern rifles are legal for adults who can legally own guns. Cities and counties can’t pass their own gun rules because state law preempts them (IC 35-47-11.1-2). Machine guns, short-barreled rifles and suppressors are governed by the federal National Firearms Act. More in can you own an AR-15 in Indiana.

Where you can’t carry in Indiana

Even without a permit requirement, some places are off limits or restricted. Examples include school property and school buses (IC 35-47-9-2), airport screening areas (IC 35-47-6-1.3), federal facilities (18 U.S.C. 930) and postal property (39 CFR 232.1). Private property owners can also ban guns. See where you cannot carry in Indiana.

Transporting guns in Indiana

If you can legally carry a handgun, you can keep it in your vehicle. Employers generally can’t stop employees from keeping a gun locked out of sight in their own locked vehicle (IC 34-28-7-2), with exceptions. School parking lots have their own rule. Our Indiana gun transportation guide explains cars, work, school and flying.

Indiana’s red flag law

Indiana’s Jake Laird law, passed in 2005, lets police seize guns from someone they believe is dangerous, with or without a warrant, followed by a court hearing. The state must prove the person is dangerous by clear and convincing evidence. See Indiana red flag law.

What changed in Indiana gun laws in 2025 and 2026?

• Red flag record expungement (2025): House Enrolled Act 1137, effective July 1, 2025, requires courts to seal and expunge red flag records when a person is found not dangerous.
• Shooting ranges and gun stores (2026): Senate Bill 176, signed April 29, 2026 and effective July 1, 2026, limits local zoning and permitting rules for shooting ranges and gun stores that are stricter than state law.
• Antique firearms (2026): House Bill 1052 exempts antique firearms from Indiana’s dealer handgun sale requirements.

The core rules, permitless carry, no purchase permit and no waiting period, are unchanged in 2026.

Visiting Indiana with a gun

Permitless carry applies to anyone in Indiana who meets the requirements, not just residents, and Indiana honors every other state’s carry license for non-residents (IC 35-47-2-21). See Indiana gun laws for non-residents.

Questions about a purchase or transfer?

Condition Red Tactical is at 866 S State St in Greenfield. We handle sales with an electronic background check system and do FFL transfers for $35 for the first firearm. Contact us with questions.

Gun laws change, and this guide is general information, not legal advice. Check the current Indiana Code or talk to an Indiana attorney about your specific situation.