Handgun permit applications skyrocket in Indiana after app fee erased

(photo supplied / WNDU)

(AP) — Indiana is seeing a wave of people applying for five-year handgun permits after lawmakers erased the fee starting July 1.

State police received more than 20,000 permit applications from July 1-7, compared to 2,259 during the same period last year. About two-thirds of the applications were for the no-fee five-year permits.

Applicants still must pay a $13 fingerprint fee and have a background check. The new gun applications have strained the state’s online system. Police officials ask applicants to be patient as the surge of applications could slow down a response in your application.