Indiana Lawmaker Jim Lucas Draws His Gun in Response to Student Pleas for Firearm Safety: Vanity Fair Covers the Story

Article by Bess Levin

Republicans are known for their controversial reactions to America's gun issue, which range from attributing mass shootings to abortion and evolution education, to harassing school shooting survivors. This trend continues to thrive in Indiana, as reportedly, a state law maker responded to students calling for gun control by displaying his handgun to them.

As per the information from The Associated Press, students from the Burris Laboratory School visited the state Capitol earlier this week. They were participating in an advocacy day with Students Demand Action, a segment of Everytown for Gun Safety. State representative Jim Lucas confronted the group, enquired about their purpose and then started advocating for the rights of gun owners. Lucas argued that individuals must possess the ability to defend themselves and highlighted the inability of law enforcement to prevent school shootings in Parkland, Florida, and Uvalde, Texas. He also suggested that people in areas with firearm restrictions were not "truly free". Moreover, Lucas, as per a student's video recording, revealed his handgun by opening his suit jacket and stating "I’m carrying right now". Interestingly, Indiana lawmakers and their staff members are permitted to carry handguns in and around the Capitol.

A student, recalling the incident to The Associated Press, stated that the conversation turned tense once Lucas displayed his weapon. The student felt "powerless", "scared", "alone", and "almost petrified with fear" when a state legislator showed a weapon.

Lucas, however, did not respond to requests for comments from The Associated Press. Following the incident, he made Facebook posts claiming that their discussions were respectful but the students were operating on "plain emotion" against "facts, reason and logic". He expressed pity and fear for those being indoctrinated to fear tools of self-defence and to depend on the government for their safety. It's important to note that Lucas advocates for relaxing gun laws. In a 2021 social media post, he had written, “Sweet Baby Jesus, I LOVE this country” in response to a news story about 187,585 Black Friday gun sales.