The House passed legislation to allow people protected by restraining orders to carry a handgun without a license for up to 60 days.
The vote came after an hour of passionate, sometimes emotional debate on the House floor.
Proponents – including Rep. Woody Burton (R-Whiteland) – say the measure ensures the government doesn't stand in the way of victims of domestic violence protecting themselves.
"If that person that's been abused wants to take a protective order and have a permit to carry a gun for protection, they ought to have that right," Burton says.
Rep. Linda Lawson (D-Hammond) spoke about her experiences with domestic violence as a police officer. She says adding more guns to those situations adds fuel to the fire.
"Allowing a woman to get a license to carry without any other way to handle herself except pulling the trigger is the very worst thing you can do," Lawson says.
The bill also directs a study committee to investigate eliminating Indiana's handgun license requirement entirely.
After a 71 to 26 vote, the measure heads to the Senate.