The effort to curb gun-related crimes in Indiana continues as a bill to expand the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force to include Lake County sailed through the Senate Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law. The piece of legislation, House Bill 1095, seeks to bolster the crime-fighting initiative that has been operative since 2021.

House Bill 1095, seeing unanimous approval in the committee, represents yet another step in a statewide crusade against illegal firearms. According to a report by Indiana Senate Republicans, the task force has been instrumental in solving hundreds of crimes through firearm tracing.

The Indiana Crime Guns Task Force, established nearly four years ago, was designed as a multi-agency collaboration including local police, state police, and federal partners. It aims to efficiently track and nab illegal firearms, dismantle networks perpetuating firearm-related crimes, enhance agency communication, and standardize the process for investigating the use of firearms in crimes.

With the proposed inclusion of Lake County, proponents of the bill view this expansion as a boon for local law enforcement efforts. "The Indiana Crime Guns Task Force play an incredibly important role in putting a stop to organized crime in Indiana," Sen. Dan Dernulc was quoted saying in the aforementioned report, adding that it also assists in the battle against the sale of illegal drugs in the state, as per the Indiana Senate Republicans.

As the bill now advances to the full Senate for further discussion, regional lawmakers such as Rep. Earl Harris (D-East Chicago) have been acknowledged for their advocacy and introduction of the legislation. HB 1095, if passed, would mark another stride to safeguard Indiana communities, wrapping organized crime like a tight coil, by integrating Lake County into a system proven to effectively trace and tackle the illicit use of guns.