(Indianapolis) – A bill filed in the Indiana Senate would make it a crime to wear a mask at a public assembly if the intent is to conceal one’s identity, creating new penalties that could escalate from a misdemeanor to a felony under certain circumstances.
Senate Bill 73, titled “Masks at Public Assemblies,” was authored by Sen. Gary Byrne, a Republican from southern Indiana, and has been referred to the Senate Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law.
Under the proposal, wearing a mask at a public assembly with the intent to hide one’s identity would be a Class C misdemeanor. A second or subsequent offense would be elevated to a Class A misdemeanor. The charge could rise to a Level 6 felony if the masked individual engages in rioting or disorderly conduct…