Gary Mayor Eddie Melton to testify against HB 1235, legislation designed to kill an ongoing lawsuit and manipulate the Courts

MEDIA ADVISORY: Gary Mayor Eddie Melton to testify against HB 1235, legislation designed to kill an ongoing lawsuit and manipulate the Courts

HB 1235, which is facing a vote before the Indiana Senate Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law, is a shocking and unprecedented attempt at unconstitutional government overreach.

Indianapolis, IN, February 19th – Gary Mayor Eddie Melton will testify at tomorrow’s hearing on HB 1235 by the Indiana Senate Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law. HB 1235 is a shocking and unprecedented attempt at unconstitutional government overreach. It would strip the right of local Indiana governments to seek access to the courts, a fundamental pillar of governance.  

In the words of its author, HB 1235 was designed specifically to end an active legal case, City of Gary v. Beretta et al., against the gun industry brought by the City of Gary. Five of the defendants in the City of Gary’s lawsuit sit on the board of the trade organization that has endorsed and promoted this bill, which conveniently would end the case against them.

Mayor Melton said:  

“Supporters of the bill say Gary’s lawsuit is ‘frivolous.’ But there is nothing frivolous about taking away the power of Hoosiers and violating our Constitution. It’s simple: You should not be able to change the law to avoid losing a lawsuit. But that is the sole goal of this HB 1235. Three times, Indiana’s courts have determined that the City of Gary’s case has merit. Yet here we are, facing a last-ditch effort to manipulate our judicial system through gross government overreach. And let’s be clear, Hoosier’s will pay the price. I implore the Senate Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law to uphold the separation of powers and consider the deep harm that HB 1235 will have on my City and communities across Indiana.”

Proponents of HB 1235 have made grossly erroneous arguments in support of this bill. Those claims, which are likely to be echoed before the Indiana Senate Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law, have been entirely debunked.

Media Contact:

Erika Blackwell

ofc: (219) 881-1314

cell: (219) 292-1251

em: eblackwell@gary.gov

Izzy Olive

cell: 412-401-5787

em: iolive@bradyunited.org

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