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Throwing stars likely legal this year after bill ending ban heads to governor

Throwing stars have been banned in Indiana since the mid-1980s. (Volpin Props / Flickr)
Throwing stars have been banned in Indiana since the mid-1980s. (Volpin Props / Flickr)

Throwing stars are set to become legal this summer after lawmakers sent legislation to the governor eliminating their prohibition.

The weapons have been illegal in Indiana since the mid-1980s. And a bill this session,  SB 77, was originally aimed at legalizing them only in certain entertainment venues – the ax-throwing businesses that have become popular wanted to offer throwing stars.

The measure was expanded to fully legalize throwing stars after, Rep. Dale DeVon (R-Granger) said, Indiana prosecutors and public defenders both got on board with the idea.

“And put them in the same category as a pocketknife," DeVon said. "So, they will not be allowed in schools or anything like that.”

Lawmakers overwhelmingly supported the measure, sending it to the governor’s desk with fewer than 10 votes against between the House and Senate.

Brandon is our Statehouse bureau chief. Contact him at  bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at  @brandonjsmith5.

Brandon J. Smith has previously worked as a reporter and anchor for KBIA Radio in Columbia, MO. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, IL as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.