Sawed off Shotgun question/comments

[bdj357]

The way the law reads, it is illegal to own a sawed off shotgun in Indiana regardless of the barrel length.
Is this true?
Seems odd that you can buy a shotgun w/ a 18 inch barrel, but you can't cut one down.
Any opinions?

IC 35-47-5-4.1
Sawed-off shotgun
Sec. 4.1. (a) A person who:
(1) manufactures;
(2) causes to be manufactured;
(3) imports into Indiana;
(4) keeps for sale;
(5) offers or exposes for sale; or
(6) gives, lends, or possesses;
any sawed-off shotgun commits dealing in a sawed-off shotgun, a Class D felony.
(b) The presence of a weapon referred to in subsection (a) in a motor vehicle (as defined under IC 9-13-2-105(a)) except for school buses and a vehicle operated in the transportation of passengers by a common carrier (as defined in IC 8-2.1-17-4) creates an inference that the weapon is in the possession of the persons occupying the motor vehicle. However, the inference does not apply to all the persons occupying the motor vehicle if the weapon is found upon, or under the control of, one (1) of the occupants. In addition, the inference does not apply to a duly licensed driver of a motor vehicle for hire who finds the weapon in the licensed driver's motor vehicle in the proper pursuit of the licensed driver's trade.
(c) This section does not apply to a law enforcement officer who is acting in the course of the officer's official duties or to a person who manufactures or imports for sale or sells a sawed-off shotgun to a law enforcement agency.

 

[BtownBlaster]

I believe that the statute defines a sawed-off shotgun as one having a barrel less than 18 inches or an overall length of less than 26 inches. IC 35-47-1-10. I don't think it would qualify under the statute unless it met those requirements.

 

[shooter521]

IC 35-47-1-10
"Sawed-off shotgun"
Sec. 10. "Sawed-off shotgun" means:
(1) a shotgun having one (1) or more barrels less than eighteen (18) inches in length; and
(2) any weapon made from a shotgun (whether by alteration, modification, or otherwise) if the weapon as modified has an overall length of less than twenty-six (26) inches.
As added by P.L.311-1983, SEC.32.

Also been discussed before:
https://www.indianagunowners.com/forums/long_guns/69430-sawed_off_shotgun.html

and

https://www.indianagunowners.com/fo...aw-off_a_shotgun_but_within_legal_length.html