LONDON, Ky. – The Kentucky chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, released the following statements in response to reports that five people were shot along I-75, near the city of London, Kentucky yesterday. According to officials, all five victims are in stable condition. While details are still emerging, law enforcement is reporting that nine vehicles had been shot into on both north and southbound lanes of the interstate and the shooter remains at large.
“Our kids aren’t safe at school. Our families aren’t safe simply going to the bank. Now, we’re not even spared from America’s gun violence epidemic on the highway. We deserve better —we deserve safe communities, free from gun violence,” said Cathy Hobart, a volunteer with the Kentucky chapter of Moms Demand Action chapter. “We know that senseless gun violence has no place in our communities, but time and time again, our lawmakers would rather offer thoughts and prayers than actually take action to keep them off our streets. How many more times do our communities have to be torn apart before our lawmakers do something about this?”
“Just days ago, students like me in Georgia were ducking for their lives under desks when they should have been focusing on learning. Now we’re forced to do the same thing in our cars. When will this end?” said Alexander Jones, a volunteer leader with the DuPont Manual chapter of Students Demand Action. “My generation refuses to accept that this is ‘just a fact of life’ – and we refuse to accept that this is the best our lawmakers can offer. We’re going to continue fighting for a future free from gun violence that we know we deserve and is achievable.”
Kentucky is no stranger to gun violence, including devastating instances of daily gun violence and mass shootings. Just last year, there was a mass shooting at Old National Bank in downtown Louisville where five people were killed and eight were injured. In the year since the mass shooting at Old National Bank, Kentucky lawmakers have not taken any steps to strengthen the state’s gun violence prevention laws.
Kentucky’s gun laws are among the worst in the country, ranking 40th out of all 50 states. Kentucky lacks all foundational gun safety laws and lawmakers have consistently refused to take up common sense gun safety policies that would keep their constituents safe.
Instead, lawmakers passed a dangerous nullification bill in 2023, which became law without Governor Andy Beshear’s signature, and which seeks to undermine federal firearm laws, making it illegal for any public officer or employee of the state, including state and local law enforcement officers, to assist with the enforcement of new federal gun laws or regulations that would help keep Kentucky safe and repealed its concealed carry permitting requirement in 2019.
As a result of these lax gun safety laws, Kentucky has the 14th-highest rate of gun deaths in the US.
In an average year, 827 people die by guns in Kentucky and another 1,857 are wounded. Gun violence costs Kentucky $9.6 billion each year, of which $183.4 million is paid by taxpayers. More information on gun violence in Kentucky is available here.
If you are interested in speaking with a Kentucky Moms Demand Action or Students Demand volunteer, or a policy expert please reach out to [email protected].