HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – The Indiana Democratic Party has released a statement criticizing Rep. Jim Lucas over a video that appeared to show him flashing a gun to a group of high school students during a gun rights discussion.
In the video, first posted by The Statehouse File, Lucas, a Republican from Seymour, shows a holstered gun to the students in response to a question about the right to carry a firearm.
A student from Burris Laboratory School in Muncie told The Associated Press that she and four other students were at the state Capitol on Tuesday to participate in a day of advocacy with Students Demand Action, an arm of Everytown for Gun Safety. Alana Trissel, 17, said Lucas had asked the students what brought them to the Capitol and began to defend gun rights.
In discussing places where firearms are banned, Lucas said people aren’t “truly free” unless they can defend themselves.
A student off-camera asked Lucas if was referring to carrying a firearm. Just over six minutes into the 10-minute video, Lucas said, “I’m carrying right now,” and holds open his suit jacket exposing a holstered handgun.
A student then remarks that “nothing about someone carrying a gun makes me feel safe.”
Lucas responded by saying, “Those are feelings. I’m talking facts.”
It was not immediately clear what kind of gun Lucas was carrying.
The exchange between Lucas and the students comes after a bill that would expand the right to carry firearms into the state Capitol was passed by the Senate Corrections Committee. It now heads to the House.
Indiana Democratic Party Chair Mike Schmuhl condemned the interaction.
“Indiana Republicans seemingly have enough time to belittle and intimidate high school students in between passing laws defunding the police, expanding child labor, and helping the gun lobby get off in court,” said Schmuhl. “This supermajority puts the interests of the gun lobby over those of our local governments, and even the safety of Hoosier students. It’s wrong, and it’s time to check their power at the ballot box in November.”
Representative Lucas shared an article about the video on his Facebook page, saying he fears for “those that are being indoctrinated to fear that which is their best means of self defense.”
“People are also being indoctrinated to depend on government for their ‘safety,’ even when shown that government has clearly ruled that government doesn’t have the duty to protect us,” Lucas wrote on Facebook.
Schmuhl, in his statement, suggested the state’s GOP has given up on putting an end to gun violence.
“Indiana Republicans say laws can’t stop gun violence. They have no plan to stop gun violence because they do not believe it is possible,” Schmuhl said. “We all deserve an Indiana where students — and everyone in our communities — feel safe and gun-owning Hoosiers can do so safely and responsibly.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.