After a man killed four employees and wounded at least nine others in a shooting he livestreamed on social media in downtown Louisville, gun-violence prevention groups cited the need for better ways to legally allow law enforcement to take guns from people in crisis, before tragedy occurs.

Cathy Mekus, Kentucky chapter lead for the group Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, explained legislation known as Crisis Aversion and Rights Retention has been filed in the past several years by three state representatives, but has largely been ignored. It would mean after hearing from a concerned community member, police could petition a judge to have a person’s firearms transferred out of their possession until it is determined the individual is no longer a threat to themselves or others.

“In some of the cases, there are people who know something and who can say something,” Mekus explained. “In those cases, this provides a tool to stop that person before they commit this act.”

Mekus added volunteers with her group had originally planned to travel to Nashville to support the moms affected by the recent elementary school shooting there. Now, she said plans may change as Louisville grapples with a mass shooting at home.

Marcy Timmerman, executive director of Mental Health America of Kentucky, said the Disaster Distress hotline, available by calling or texting 988, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to help Kentuckians navigate their emotions and mental health in the weeks to come.

“They have been trained in this already helping people process,” Timmerman noted. “If you’ve been through gun violence before, and this has triggered you, they can help you kind of talk through what your needs might be.”

According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been more than 29 mass shootings in Kentucky since 2014.

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Nevada lawmakers are considering three gun-safety bills.

Assembly Bill 354 would prohibit anyone possessing a firearm in or within 100 yards of an entrance to an election site, and AB 355 could raise the age from 18 to 21 for Nevadans to purchase an assault-style weapon.

In the past five years, said Assembly Majority Leader Sandra Jauregui, D-Las Vegas, a survivor of the Oct. 1, 2017, massacre in Las Vegas, six out of the nine deadliest shootings were committed by people younger than age 21, and she’s championing both proposals.

“These two policies are a common-sense approach that I believe will protect second graders and the Second Amendment at the same time,” she said.

The third bill, Senate Bill 171, would prohibit the purchase, ownership and possession of a firearm for anyone convicted in the last 10 years of a crime motivated by “certain characteristics” of the victim – such as race, ethnicity and sexual orientation.

According to the Justice Department, said Sen. Dallas Harris, D-Las Vegas, more than 10,000 people each year are victims of hate crimes involving a firearm. As the chair of the state’s first LGBTQ+ caucus, Harris said sponsoring SB 171 was a “no brainer.”

“The rising tide of hate and hate-motivated violence has led the FBI to elevate that type of violence to a top-priority threat,” Harris said, “singling out white supremacy as a major driver of those attacks.”

The bills were discussed at a joint hearing of the Assembly and Senate Judiciary Committees Thursday. Both lawmakers called the bills “comprehensive and common-sense gun laws” and said they welcome feedback from Republicans.

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A bill to make it more difficult for local police to enforce federal gun laws and in some cases criminally penalize them, now heads to Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear’s desk.

Kentucky lawmakers have secured enough votes to override a veto of House Bill 153, which bans state and local law enforcement and other public officials from enforcing federal firearms regulations enacted after Jan. 1, 2021.

Cathy Hobart, a volunteer for Kentucky Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, said she is concerned the measure could hamper efforts to protect communities from rising levels of gun violence.

“What we know is that the more guns that are in circulation, the more likely they are to be stolen, the more likely they are to get into the hands of people that have no business having those guns like children and criminals,” Hobart pointed out.

According to Mental Health America, 85% of suicide attempts with a firearm result in death. More than 800 Kentuckians died by suicide in 2020, and 65% involved a firearm.

Kentuckians in crisis can call 988 24 hours a day, seven days a week to speak with suicide prevention and mental health counselors.

Hobart added it is not up to states to decide which federal laws they are going to enforce. She also pointed out the legislation’s vague wording could create confusion among police officers.

“It makes it difficult for law enforcement to know which laws to enforce,” Hobart contended. “That will lead to confusion, we think it will lead to more gun crime in the long run.”

Supporters of the bill argue the federal government, not the state of Kentucky, is responsible for enforcing its own gun laws. Last week President Biden signed an executive order strengthening background check requirements for firearms dealers.

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As the National Rifle Association gears up for annual events next month in Indianapolis, another group is speaking out about rightful handgun ownership and accessibility as gun-related crimes increase. In advance of the NRA get-together, the group Hoosiers Concerned About Gun Violence will hold a “Teach-In,” to help shift the dialogue to focus on the surplus of firearms that contributes to an already violent society.

Jerry King, Hoosiers Concerned About Gun Violence, said it is proposing more background checks and improved enforcement of Indiana’s so-called Red Flag Law to address gun-related incidents – including suicide, domestic violence and homicide.

“We live in a nation, we live in a city, in a state that’s just awash with guns. And so we focus, really, in on that particular problem,” King said.

King added he understands many people will not readily relinquish their firearms, and his group would support legislation to limit sales and possession of assault weapons. The Teach-In event is scheduled for April 8th. Hoosiers Concerned About Gun Violence was created in 1992 when a teen fatally shot his parents after purchasing a weapon from a local gun store.

King said his nonprofit also was vocal in its opposition to Governor Eric Holcomb’s signing of House Bill 1296 into law last year, allowing people to carry guns without a license or permit.

“We just think that was the most reckless and foolish policy measure – and so, we are interested in a campaign that might see that very, very bad law reversed,” King said.

His group will also launch a leadership development program for 16-to-22-year-olds this fall, King said, focusing on conflict resolution, civic engagement and principles of democracy. The NRA events are coming up in downtown Indianapolis April 14th to 16th.

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