INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana Senate has approved a bill that would allow legislative employees to carry handguns inside the Statehouse.

Senators voted 36-13 Tuesday in favor of exempting those workers from current state regulations that ban deadly weapons from the Statehouse and the nearby state office buildings. Those regulations allow exceptions for police officers, members of the General Assembly and judges.

Bill sponsor Republican Sen. Jim Tomes (toms) of Wadesville says legislative staffers often leave work after dark and believes that they should be able to protect themselves. Opponents argued that it was dangerous to allow more weapons inside the Statehouse and that training should be required.

Other state government workers would still be prohibited from having weapons at the Statehouse complex.

The proposal now goes to the House for consideration.