An Indiana state lawmaker threw his holstered gun at high school students visiting the Statehouse to advocate for gun reform, leaving some of the teenagers feeling unsafe and “threatened,” according to a video of the interaction.
Rep. Republican Jim Lucas was debating the topic of gun laws with students from Burris Laboratory School when he opened his coat to reveal a gun in his waistband to the youngsters, Franklin College student publication The Statehouse File first reported.
“I brought it [a gun] now,” Lucas told the group of students as he opened his coat to reveal a gun holstered at his waist, according to clip obtained by outlet.
“Look, nothing makes me feel safe,” one of the students replied. “Nothing about someone carrying a gun makes me feel safe. It makes me feel threatened.”
“That’s a feeling. I’m speaking the facts,” Lucas — who was arrested for drunken driving and leaving the scene of an accident in May — told the teenager.
“People who want to kill you don’t care about your feelings,” he added.
The high school student is a member of Students Demand Action – a national youth activist group committed to ending gun violence in the US – and was visiting the Statehouse in Indianapolis on Tuesday for the annual Advocacy Day to demand that lawmakers do more to protect them from guns and school shootings.
Rep. Republican Jim Lucas flashed his holstered pistol at students inside the Statehouse in Indianapolis during a gun debate on Tuesday. Makynna Fivecoats “I brought [a gun] right now,” Lucas told the group of students as he opened his coat to reveal a gun holstered at his waist. Makynna Fivecoats
There have been 55 school shootings in Indiana since 1966, according to a database of K-12 school shootings compiled by researcher David Riedman. In just the first month of 2024, 14 school shootings have occurred across the US with 17 victims, the database said.
The students told the Statehouse File interactions with state lawmakers left them feeling uneasy.
“My heart dropped to my stomach,” said 17-year-old Makynna Fivecoats, who videotaped their conversation. “I really felt very insecure at the time. And I really wanted the conversation to end after that.”
Lawmakers and their staff were allowed inside the Statehouse building, but students were still harassed by Lucas brandishing a gun.
“It kind of, almost, felt like a threat to me,” Fivecoats told the publication. “I want to say that’s not what he meant, but when you show someone you have a gun on you, there’s no other way to mean it. [anything] other than threats.”
The students are members of Students Demand Action and are visiting the Statehouse in Indianapolis on Tuesday for the annual Advocacy Day to demand that lawmakers do more to protect them from guns and school shootings. Makynna Fivecoats
Lucas, however, dismissed suggestions that he threatened the teenage girl — telling the Statehouse File that he was “just pointing at an inanimate object” in reference to the deadly weapon.
“People who want to have adult conversations, I think, need to be able to handle adult situations,” he said referring to the students.
The Republican later took to Facebook to reiterate his argument for guns in self-defense.
“I fear, and pity those who are indoctrinated to fear their best means of self-defense,” Lucas wrote along with a link to the article. “People are also indoctrinated to rely on the government for their ‘safety’, even when it is shown that the government has clearly decided that the government has no duty to protect us.”
His office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Post.
Lucas rejected suggestions that he threatened the teenage girl and said he was “just pointing at an inanimate object.” AP
The state representative’s actions drew swift backlash from Democrats and those rallying for safer schools.
“Indiana Republicans seem to have plenty of time to belittle and intimidate high school students in between passing laws that fund the police, expand child labor, and help the gun lobby go down in court,” said Indiana Democratic Party Chairman Mike Schmuhl, according to Fox59. “This vast majority puts the interests of the gun lobby ahead of our local government, and even the safety of Hoosier students. It’s wrong, and it’s time to check their power at the ballot box in November.
Lucas had a similar interaction with constituents in 2020 when he answered a 12-year-old’s question about guns at school by telling the crowd, “I’m carrying now. Does that scare anyone?” The Republic reported at the time.
It apparently scared off about a third — about 20 people — of those in the room who either answered yes or raised their hands in the affirmative, according to the outlet.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
