Sec. 15. (a) A person desiring a retail handgun dealer’s license shall apply to the sheriff of the county in which the person resides, or if the person is a resident of another state and has a regular place of business in Indiana, then to the sheriff of the county in which the person has a regular place of business. The applicant shall state the applicant’s name, full address, occupation, sex, race, age, place of birth, date of birth, nationality, height, weight, build, color of eyes, color of hair, complexion, scars and marks, and any criminal record (minor traffic offenses excepted). The officer to whom the application is made shall verify the application and search the officer’s records concerning the applicant’s character and reputation.

     (b) The officer to whom the application is made shall send to the superintendent:

(1) the verified application;

(2) the results of the officer’s investigation; and

(3) the officer’s recommendation for approval or disapproval of the application;

in as many copies as the superintendent shall designate, and one (1) set of legible and classifiable fingerprints of the applicant. The superintendent may make whatever further investigation the superintendent deems necessary. Whenever disapproval is recommended by the officer to whom the application was made, the officer shall provide the superintendent and the applicant with the officer’s complete reasons for the disapproval in writing. If the officer to whom the application is made recommends approval, the officer shall instruct the applicant in the proper method of taking legible and classifiable fingerprints.

     (c) If an applicant applies for a license under this section before July 1, 2011, and it appears to the superintendent that the applicant is of good character and reputation and a proper person to be licensed, the superintendent shall issue to the applicant a retail handgun dealer’s license which shall be valid for a period of two (2) years from the date of issue. The fee for the license shall be twenty dollars ($20), which shall be deposited with the officer to whom the application is made, who shall in turn forward it to the superintendent for deposit with the treasurer of state when the application is approved by the superintendent.

     (d) If an applicant applies for a license under this section after June 30, 2011:

(1) the applicant shall deposit with the officer to whom the application is made a fee for the license of sixty dollars ($60);

(2) if it appears to the superintendent that the applicant is:

(A) of good character and reputation; and

(B) a proper person to be licensed;

the superintendent shall issue to the applicant a retail handgun dealer’s license, which is valid for six (6) years after the date the license is issued; and

(3) the officer to whom the application was made shall forward the fee for the license to the superintendent for deposit with the treasurer of state when the application is approved by the superintendent.

     (e) In the event that an application is disapproved by the superintendent, the fee deposited by the applicant under subsection (c) or (d) shall be returned to the applicant along with the complete reasons, in writing, for the disapproval.

     (f) No retail dealer’s license shall be issued to any person who has been:

(1) convicted of a felony; or

(2) adjudicated a delinquent child for an act that would be a felony if committed by an adult, if the person applying for the retail dealer’s license is less than twenty-three (23) years of age;

in Indiana or any other state or country.

     (g) A retail dealer’s license shall permit the licensee to sell handguns at retail within this state subject to the conditions specified in this chapter. The license may be suspended or revoked in accordance with applicable law, and the licensee may be subject to punishment as provided in this chapter.

     (h) A person who knowingly or intentionally violates this section commits a Class B misdemeanor.

As added by P.L.311-1983, SEC.32. Amended by P.L.191-1984, SEC.4; P.L.269-1995, SEC.9; P.L.44-2011, SEC.1; P.L.158-2013, SEC.579.