INDIANAPOLIS — A recent mass shooting at a Halloween party in Indianapolis that left 16-year-old Kalin Washington dead and nine others injured has local organizations urging lawmakers to enact stricter gun laws.
"We're at a state of urgency and a state of emergency right now," said Brandon Randall, longtime youth advocate and founder of Tru Colors Indy.
Randall's organization joined more than 25 others who signed a petition.
"I've been a youth worker for almost 17 years. I've lost over 50 students to gun violence. So for me, this is personal," Randall said.
Organizations are calling on lawmakers to focus on:
- Removing the state's preemption of local gun laws, to allow cities and counties to create stricter regulations.
- Repealing the state's recently enacted permitless carry law.
- Requiring background checks for gun sales at gun shows, on the internet, or between private individuals.
- Increasing the minimum age to purchase and possess firearms.
- Enacting child access prevention and safe storage laws.
In their letter, they say, "We strongly urge lawmakers to prioritize and invest in policies and programs that support communities, including expanding mental health care and youth-serving programs — employment programs, mentoring programs, and after-school programs focused on building self-control, social skills, and decision-making."
"You're creating laws that impact human lives — it's not just the numbers, it's not just a percentage — these are humans. These are family members that are absolutely distraught and traumatized and torn apart over something we can address and fix," Randall said.
They also want to focus on the root causes of crime.
"When you have these root causes and when you have a lack of common sense of policies and laws, that marriage together, that is a recipe for destruction and disaster, and we are at that point," Randall said.
The major point is a fight for change.
"We have to be able to see everybody's child as our own and the fact that we've lost 19 young people, which is last year's record," Randall said. "If you don't see the kid that just got killed as your own child, you're not going to be invested, so that has to change. The emotional connection as a community has to change."
According to Randall, the community must also not forget about youth who do commit crimes.
"We still have to be caring and consistent adults to even the kids that are on community supervision or who are locked up. We cannot forget them, and they really should be a priority," Randall said.
Organizations said they hope this letter sparks more than conversations with state lawmakers: They hope it enacts change.