New law allows guns at polling places

TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - With election day nearing, it's important to know your rights at the polls. A recent state law gives a much clearer pictures of the rights of gun owners on Nov. 6.

"I think self defense is something everyone should exercise," President of Students for Self Defense Rights Wesley Allen said. "It's good you can exercise self defense at Walmart, or exercise it going to the polling locations."

Allen, along with other gun rights activists, are excited to to exercise their right to bear firearms at the polls Nov. 6.

That is because a law signed in July 2011 allows any licensed gun owner to openly carry their gun at any polling location in Indiana, except for polls in schools and courthouses.

"The issue was being able to defend yourself wherever you are," Allen said. "So, if you went to a city park, and you weren't from the city, and you didn't know where you could defend yourself. Maybe yes, maybe no. Am I going to go to jail if I try to defend myself?"

The law overrides any local law that banned weapons in certain public areas.

Tippecanoe County Board of Elections Co-Director Amy Wenrick said the county doesn't have any polling locations at schools or in the courthouse. She says members of the board are working to make sure workers at the polls know the law.

"As long as we let our poll workers know, we try to be proactive, and let people know what the law is to try to alleviate any issues that might come up," Wenrick said.

Wenrick said with everything that could go wrong on election day, the last thing needed is any misunderstandings of the law.

"We're here to administer the election law, and to make sure the voting process goes as smoothly as possible," Wenrick said. "With this new law, it kind of dictates, and lets us know, that people are able to bear their firearms when voting at all our polling locations."

The law was in place during May's primary. Wenrick said there were no problems when it came to the right to carry firearms.