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State Sen. Eddie Melton, D-Gary, is inviting Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb to visit the Steel City for a discussion on gun violence prevention after two people were wounded in a shooting incident Sunday following a high school graduation ceremony.
State Sen. Eddie Melton, D-Gary
State Sen. Eddie Melton, D-Gary, is inviting Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb to visit the Steel City for a discussion on gun violence prevention after two people were wounded in a shooting incident Sunday following a high school graduation ceremony.
State Sen. Eddie Melton, D-Gary
GARY — State Sen. Eddie Melton, D-Gary, is inviting Gov. Eric Holcomb to visit the Steel City and participate in a collaborative discussion on gun violence prevention after two people were wounded in a shooting incident Sunday following a high school graduation ceremony.
Melton said in a letter sent Tuesday to the Republican chief executive he has "deep concerns about the safety of my community" and he's "terrified for the lives of Gary's youth and citizens" in the wake of the shooting outside a ballpark in downtown Gary.
Two juveniles, ages 16 and 17, have been charged in Lake County with criminal recklessness and dangerous possession of a firearm in connection with the shooting, records show.
"We're at a point where families cannot even attend a graduation ceremony without nursing the legitimate fear that it will erupt in senseless gun violence," Melton said. "Thankfully no one was killed — this time."
Melton said he decided to write the governor because there seems to be little interest in addressing gun violence among members of the Republican-controlled General Assembly, and Melton said he cannot "sit back while gun violence threatens those looking to lead safe lives and work toward a better future."
"As a youth growing up in Gary, I have personally experienced gun violence, and I know the traumatic impact it can have on a family and community. I also know that communities of color across the state already see an uptick in gun violence during the summer months," Melton said.
"That’s why I'm writing to invite you to my district for a collaborative discussion about preventing the impending increase in gun violence. I know it would mean a lot to the Gary community to have you included with key stakeholders in this critical conversation."
The governor's office declined to immediately respond to Melton's invitation.
Melton's letter also requests the governor call a special session of the Indiana General Assembly to give lawmakers an opportunity to repeal the state's permitless handgun carry law that's set to take effect July 1.
He said allowing nearly all adult Hoosiers age 18 and older to carry a handgun in public without needing to obtain a state permit will lead to "senseless violence."
"I fear that the gun violence we're already working to eliminate will only increase, with young lives paying the price," Melton said.
It's unlikely the Legislature would repeal permitless carry even if convened by the governor. House Enrolled Act 1296 was approved 69-30 in the House and 30-20 by the Senate, and was signed into law by Holcomb March 21.
Nevertheless, echoing a call issued last week by all 11 Senate Democrats, Melton said Hoosier lawmakers still could enact sensible gun safety measures that enjoy wide popularity, including expanded background checks, a safe gun storage law, and a strengthened "red flag" statute to temporarily remove guns from individuals found to be a danger to themselves or others.
"I know that protecting children from gun violence is a goal we both share, and I hope that this common ground can be the launching board for a productive discussion on how we can reduce gun violence across Indiana and in my district," Melton said.
"I truly hope that you will join us in Gary as you have on several occasions to discuss economic efforts. Your presence would reassure Gary residents that their safety is just as important to your administration as economic progress."
State Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago
Represents: Hammond, Whiting, East Chicago, Gary (west side), Griffith, Hobart, Merrillville
Experience: State senator since 2008, previously served 1994-98; attorney
Committees: Commerce and Technology; Insurance and Financial Institutions (ranking member); Judiciary (ranking member); Rules and Legislative Procedure; Tax and Fiscal Policy; Utilities (ranking member)
State Sen. Eddie Melton, D-Gary
Represents: Gary, Lake Station, New Chicago, Hobart, Merrillville, Crown Point
Experience: State senator since 2016; community relations manager
Committees: Appropriations (ranking member); Education and Career Development; Health and Provider Services; Joint Rules; Rules and Legislative Procedure
State Sen. Rodney Pol Jr., D-Chesterton
Represents: Ogden Dunes, Portage, Chesterton, South Haven, Burns Harbor, Beverly Shores, Michigan City, Westville
Experience: State senator since 2021; attorney
Committees: Corrections and Criminal Law (ranking member); Environmental Affairs; Local Government; Pensions and Labor; Public Policy
State Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso
Represents: Valparaiso, Hebron, Kouts, Jasper County
Experience: State senator since 2007; attorney
Committees: Appropriations; Ethics; Health and Provider Services (chairman); Rules and Legislative Procedure; Tax and Fiscal Policy
State Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell
Represents: St. John, Cedar Lake, Crown Point, Winfield, Lowell, Newton County
Experience: State senator since 2014, state representative 2012-14; small business owner
Committees: Environmental Affairs; Local Government; Tax and Fiscal Policy
State Sen. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores
Experience: State senator since 2016; consultant
Committees: Corrections and Criminal Law; Insurance and Financial Institutions; Judiciary; Local Government
State Rep. Carolyn Jackson, D-Hammond
Experience: State representative since 2018; retired Cook County, Ill., probation officer
Committees: Environmental Affairs; Family, Children and Human Affairs; Natural Resources
State Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago
Represents: East Chicago, Gary (west side)
Experience: State representative since 2016; small business owner
Committees: Government and Regulatory Reform; Roads and Transportation; Ways and Means
State Rep. Ragen Hatcher, D-Gary
Represents: Gary (downtown and east side), Lake Station, New Chicago, Hobart
Experience: State representative since 2018; attorney
Committees: Commerce, Small Business and Economic Development; Courts and Criminal Code (ranking member); Government and Regulatory Reform
State Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso
Experience: State representative since 2006; aviation safety consultant
Committees: Elections and Apportionment; Roads and Transportation; Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications (chairman)
State Rep. Pat Boy, D-Michigan City
Represents: Michigan City, Chesterton, Beverly Shores, Long Beach, Westville
Experience: State representative since 2018; retired small business owner
Committees: Environmental Affairs; Natural Resources (ranking member)
State Rep. Chuck Moseley, D-Portage
Represents: Portage, Chesterton, Ogden Dunes, Burns Harbor, South Haven
Experience: State representative since 2008; financial solutions associate
Committees: Employment, Labor and Pensions; Roads and Transportation (ranking member); Veterans Affairs and Public Safety
State Rep. Mike Aylesworth, R-Hebron
Represents: St. John, Cedar Lake, Lowell, Schneider, Hebron, Kouts
Experience: State representative since 2014; farmer, former state environmental regulator
Committees: Agriculture and Rural Development (vice chairman); Courts and Criminal Code; Environmental Affairs
State Rep. Mike Andrade, D-Munster
Represents: Munster, Hammond (south side), Highland, Griffith
Experience: State representative since 2020; small businessman
Committees: Commerce, Small Business and Economic Development; Employment, Labor and Pensions; Veterans Affairs and Public Safety
State Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary
Represents: Gary (south side), Merrillville
Experience: State representative since 1990; education professor at Indiana University Northwest
Committees: Education (ranking member); Judiciary; Local Government
State Rep. Hal Slager, R-Schererville
Represents: Dyer, Schererville, St. John, Griffith
Experience: State representative 2012-18, reelected 2020; small business owner
Committees: Environmental Affairs; Ways and Means
State Rep. Douglas Gutwein, R-Francesville
Experience: State representative since 2008; small business owner
Committees: Agriculture and Rural Development; Environmental Affairs (vice chairman); Veterans Affairs and Public Safety
State Rep. Julie Olthoff, R-Crown Point
Represents: Crown Point, Merrillville, Winfield, Lakes of the Four Seasons, Hobart
Experience: State representative 2014-2018, reelected 2020; small business owner
Committees: Family, Children and Human Affairs; Public Health (vice chairwoman); Veterans Affairs and Public Safety
State Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie
Experience: State representative since 2016; small business owner
Committees: Commerce, Small Business and Economic Development; Roads and Transportation (chairman)
State Sen. Michael Griffin, D-Highland
Represents: Hammond (south side), Munster, Highland, Griffith, Dyer, Schererville
Experience: Former Highland clerk-treasurer; university instructor
Committees: Insurance and Financial Institutions; Local Government
Originally published on nwitimes.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange.
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