Sec. 7. (a) As used in this section, “machine gun” has the meaning set forth in IC 35-31.5-2-190.

     (b) Except an individual acting within a parent-minor child or guardian-minor protected person relationship or any other individual who is also acting in compliance with IC 35-47-10 (governing children and firearms) and federal law, a person may not sell, give, or in any other manner transfer the ownership or possession of a handgun or machine gun to any person under eighteen (18) years of age.

     (c) A person who knowingly or intentionally sells, gives, or in any other manner transfers ownership or possession of a machine gun to a person under eighteen (18) years of age commits a Level 5 felony. However, the offense is a Level 4 felony if the person who sells, gives, or transfers ownership of the machine gun has a prior conviction under this section, and a Level 3 felony if a person under eighteen (18) years of age uses the machine gun to commit murder (IC 35-42-1-1).

     (d) A person who knowingly or intentionally sells, gives, or in any other manner transfers the ownership or possession of a handgun to another person who the person knows:

(1) is ineligible for any reason other than the person’s age to purchase or otherwise receive from a dealer a handgun; or

(2) intends to use the handgun to commit a crime;

commits criminal transfer of a handgun, a Level 5 felony. However, the offense is a Level 3 felony if the other person uses the handgun to commit murder (IC 35-42-1-1).

     (e) A person who purchases a handgun with the intent to:

(1) resell or otherwise provide the handgun to another person who the person knows is ineligible for any reason to purchase or otherwise receive from a dealer a handgun;

(2) resell or otherwise provide the handgun to another person who the person knows intends to use the handgun to commit a crime; or

(3) transport the handgun outside Indiana to be resold or otherwise provided to another person who the transferor knows:

(A) is ineligible to purchase or otherwise receive a handgun; or

(B) intends to use the handgun to commit a crime;

commits the straw purchase of a handgun, a Level 5 felony. However, the offense is a Level 3 felony if the other person uses the handgun to commit murder (IC 35-42-1-1).

     (f) As used in this subsection, “NICS” has the meaning set forth in IC 35-47-2.5-2.5. It is a defense to a prosecution under subsection (d)(1) that:

(1) the accused person contacted NICS (or had a dealer contact NICS on the person’s behalf) to request a background check on the other person before the accused person sold, gave, or in any other manner transferred the ownership or possession of the handgun to the other person; and

(2) the accused person (or dealer acting on the person’s behalf) received authorization from NICS to sell, give, or in any other manner transfer ownership or possession of the handgun to the other person.

As added by P.L.311-1983, SEC.32. Amended by P.L.33-1989, SEC.126; P.L.140-1994, SEC.8; P.L.269-1995, SEC.7; P.L.158-2013, SEC.577; P.L.152-2014, SEC.2; P.L.183-2019, SEC.1; P.L.80-2023, SEC.2.