1. United States
2. Ind.
3. Letter

Dear Senator Maxwell, I am a constituent from Guilford in Dearborn County writing to express serious concern regarding House Bill 1343 and to urge you to oppose it as it comes before the Indiana Senate. HB 1343 authorizes the creation of a state-controlled military police force drawn from the Indiana National Guard and grants it civilian law-enforcement powers while under state active duty. This is not merely an operational adjustment; it represents a structural change in how coercive authority is exercised within the state. From a policy standpoint, the bill raises three core risks: First, civil–military boundary erosion. Indiana has long maintained a clear separation between civilian law enforcement and military forces, even during emergencies. HB 1343 blurs that boundary by normalizing military involvement in routine civilian policing functions. Once established in statute, this authority will be difficult to constrain in practice and may be expanded under future administrations. Second, concentration of executive power. The bill creates a policing entity that answers primarily to the executive branch rather than to local governments or civilian oversight structures. This weakens local control of public safety and shifts decision-making upward at precisely the moments — protests, emergencies, political unrest — when restraint and accountability matter most. Third, precedent risk under changing conditions. Legislation must be evaluated not only for its intended use, but for its plausible misuse. Indiana’s statutory framework should be resilient against worst-case scenarios, including heightened political polarization or emergency declarations that lower thresholds for deployment. HB 1343 does not adequately safeguard against these risks. As a member of committees that address public safety, homeland security, and military affairs, you are uniquely positioned to evaluate these implications beyond surface-level assurances. The question is not whether Guard members are capable or well-trained, but whether this authority is appropriate, necessary, or prudent within a civilian constitutional system. I respectfully urge you to vote NO on HB 1343, to oppose ythe normalization of military policing authority in Indiana, and to insist on public-safety policies that preserve civilian oversight, local control, and constitutional balance. Thank you for your attention to this matter and for your service to our district.