More Than 100 Gun Safety Advocates Rally for Stronger Gun Laws at the Kentucky Capitol

Yesterday, volunteers with the Kentucky chapter of Moms Demand Action held an advocacy day to urge lawmakers to consider common-sense gun violence prevention legislation this session, including a bill to disarm domestic abusers and extreme risk legislation.

More than 100 volunteers gathered at the statehouse to meet with lawmakers, including survivors of gun violence and volunteers with the Louisville Students Demand Action group. See some of the coverage here:

Courier Journal: “‘They messed with the wrong mom’: Activists rally for gun-safety laws at Kentucky Capitol”

“The rally capped a day of advocacy, as group members met with lawmakers to lobby for what they consider to be “common sense” gun-safety legislation: everything from mandatory background checks on all gun purchases and stronger laws restricting firearms access by domestic abusers to extreme-risk protection orders — so-called red flag laws — that allow law enforcement and the courts to temporarily remove a gun from people deemed a threat to themselves or others.”

WFLP – NPR: “Gun Control Advocates Rally For Kentucky ‘Red Flag’ Law”

“During his campaign last year, Beshear said he would support a “red flag” law, though no proposal has advanced in the legislature so far this year.

Dean Walker is a gun control advocate from Louisville who has lost two children to gun-related deaths. He says his son would still be alive today if Kentucky had a red flag law when he died of a self-inflicted gun wound.

“I would have gone to the police or to the court to petition for the removal of firearms from my son by law enforcement,” Walker said. “Nate was clearly in crisis.”

WYMT – CBS: “Moms Demand Action rallies in Frankfort for “common sense” gun laws”

“100 mothers gathered in the Capitol rotunda, all wearing red and asking for “common sense” laws to be passed.

Among them is Anita Franklin, whose 21-year-old son died in a Lexington shooting. She said she is a gun owner herself and does not want guns taken away. She said there simply needs to be more responsibility.”

WDKY – FOX: “Moms Demand Action rally in Frankfort focuses on gun legislation”

An attorney for domestic violence victims, Megan McDonald, says “We see a lot of the impact of gun violence on domestic violence victims and families that affects our entire city. We feel very strongly there needs to be more protection for those victims and families in general.”

With Republican majorities in both chambers, this year’s legislature is very conservative. Leaders say gun laws will be a hard sell, but attendees at the rally say they have to try.

If you have any questions about the legislation volunteers discussed yesterday, or would like to speak with volunteers with the Kentucky chapter of Moms Demand Action, please don’t hesitate to reach out.