Indiana legal term
Handgun in Indiana Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Indiana legislative session
In Indiana criminal law, “Handgun” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the Indiana criminal code.
What does “Handgun” mean in Indiana criminal law?
"Handgun" means any firearm: (1) designed or adapted so as to be aimed and fired from one (1) hand, regardless of barrel length; or (2) any firearm with: (A) a barrel less than sixteen (16) inches in length; or (B) an overall length of less than twenty-six (26) inches. (Ind. Code § 35-47-1-6)
Statutes defining or using this term
Charges using this term
- "Machine gun"; prohibited sales or transfers of ownership
- Unlawful carrying of a handgun
- Armor-piercing ammunition; offense; exceptions
- Dealer violations
- Firearms and handguns; giving false information or offering false evidence of identity
- License requirement; application; procedure
- License to carry handgun; fees; resident of another state
- Necessity of retail handgun dealer's license; display
- Retail handgun dealer's license; application procedure
- Retail handgun dealer's license; restrictions; display; prohibited sales; gun show
- Suspension or revocation of license; failure to return license; rules concerning procedure for suspending or revoking license
- Use of unlawful handgun-carrying license to obtain handgun prohibited
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.