More than 200 Black Hoosiers lost their lives to homicide in 2019, and a new report reveals the state has one of the highest overall rates of Black homicide victims in the nation.

Based on federal crime data, the study found the 2019 Black homicide victimization rate in Indiana was nearly 29 homicides per 100,000 Black residents, which is the country's third-highest rate.

Josh Sugarmann, executive director of the Violence Policy Center, which issued the report, said most of the states with high rankings share a common thread.

"They have limited gun violence prevention laws in the state itself, and often rely solely, or nearly solely, on federal standards," Sugarmann explained. "This is the case with Indiana, which has virtually no controls beyond the federal statutes."

The study only includes data up to 2019, the most recent year such federal crime statistics are available. The raw data is supplied to the federal government by local law enforcement agencies. And while the report's authors pointed out the study includes the most accurate information available, they added its findings are "limited by the quantity and degree of detail in the information submitted."

Nearly 90% of Black Hoosiers who died by homicide in 2019 were killed with a firearm.

Sugarmann argued the best way to address the issue is by implementing a range of gun control policies. It might be a tough pitch in the GOP-controlled General Assembly, but such proposals could find traction in local communities across the state.

However, as Sugarmann acknowledged, local officials are not allowed to pass gun laws stricter than the state-level standards.

"Now, when you have virtually no state standards, that leaves those communities with no options to basically empower them to address the issues on a local level," Sugarmann stated. "I think that could be a very important first step in addressing this level of violence in Indiana."

The report is part of an ongoing series from the Violence Policy Center, examining Black homicide data both at the state and national level. Sugarmann noted the FBI recently changed its crime-reporting protocols, which could reduce the amount of available data for future reports and limit research into gun violence.

Connecticut advocates are keen to see what will come from the recently established White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.

The new office will implement executive and legislative actions relating to gun violence prevention.

Jeremy Stein, executive director of the group CT Against Gun Violence, hopes the office will take as hard an approach to gun violence prevention as Connecticut has.

In June, Gov. Ned Lamont signed legislation to strengthen gun violence prevention laws. While Stein feels mass shootings should always remain an area of focus, he argued community gun violence needs to be a priority.

"We also need to make sure that people feel safe in their communities," Stein contended. "There are communities around the country and in Connecticut that we really have not done a great job in providing the same level of resources that we do in more suburban communities."

A 2023 report found 15% of adults in Connecticut feared gun violence, ranging from 5% in suburban areas to 42% in larger urban ones.

While there is hope the new office will create swift change at the federal level, Stein emphasized it could also improve gun violence prevention measures in Connecticut, but he noted there is not a singular solution to the problem of gun violence.

"There's different forms of gun violence whether we're talking about community gun violence, suicide, domestic violence, etc.," Stein outlined. "There may be different solutions for each form of those gun violence, but I think it's important to understand what is working and what's not."

He advocates for a realistic look at gun violence prevention, starting with addressing easy access to firearms - the common denominator in many gun crimes. A Pew Research Center report found 42% of adults live in a household with a gun. Owners list personal protection as their number one reason for having it.


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One day after New Mexico Gov. Michele Lujan Grisham announced a ban on the public carry of guns in and around Albuquerque, a pro-gun group is suing.

The National Association for Gun Rights argues the order, announced Friday, is unconstitutional - based on a 2022 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court involving a case in New York.

The governor announced the gun-carry ban in Bernalillo County for the next 30 days, regardless of whether a permit had been issued.

She cited a need to take what she called a "tough, direct stand" after receiving daily phone calls and texts from those who see others with guns wherever they go.

"People with guns on the trails, people with guns and kids in their cars," said Grisham, "kids with guns in the parking lots at school, kids with guns at our parks, kids with guns in downtown Albuquerque."

The plaintiffs are asking the court to issue a temporary restraining order that would prevent it from taking effect.

Albuquerque, where the homicide rate has been on the rise in recent years, was ranked 17th among 70 of the largest cities for homicides in 2021 - according to a report by the Major Cities Chiefs Association.

The governor acknowledged last week that she expected a court challenge to the order, but added that she welcomed the debate and fight about how to make New Mexicans safer.

"If we send a very clear and strong message that what's happening in our state," said Grisham, "and particularly today, in the largest city - is unacceptable, we believe that we create safer situations."

The governor's directive has already been criticized by some conservatives, including Republican lawmakers in New Mexico, who said they plan to sue in federal court on grounds the order violates the state and U.S. constitutions.

A road-rage incident is blamed for the shooting death of an 11-year-old Albuquerque boy on September 6, as his family drove away from a city park.




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As Tennessee lawmakers continue in their special legislative session on public safety, mental health and gun reform, hundreds of groups and activists are protesting at the state Capitol demanding stronger gun reform.

Every day, 120 Americans are killed with guns and more than 200 are shot and wounded, according to the group Everytown for Gun Safety.

Linda McFadyen-Ketchum, co-lead for Tennessee legislative work for the group Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, said firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teens in Tennessee and the nation.

She added in this legislative session they have a call to action to lawmakers and Gov. Bill Lee for stronger gun-safety laws.

"The lifesaving bills that could be passed most likely will not even be brought up," McFadyen-Ketchum lamented. "We are more than disappointed. We're outraged that the people's voices are not being heard by our lawmakers and our governor, because the people want, they want this fixed."

McFadyen-Ketchum emphasized her group works daily to lower the death and injury rate in shootings in Tennessee and across the country. She added Moms Demand Action has more than 10 million supporters, with chapters in every state committed to saving lives.

McFadyen-Ketchum pointed out the governor's formal call for the special session makes no mention of gun reform, and the word "firearms" was only mentioned once. She noted Moms Demand Action would like to see more bills to protect children from gun violence.

"We had hoped, and what we need, is an extreme risk-protection order bill that would allow family members or law enforcement to temporarily separate someone at extreme risk for self-harm or harming others and their firearms," McFadyen-Ketchum urged. "That is not a part of the proclamation."

The Tennessee Lookout reports a list of bills in response to The Covenant School mass shooting died in committee and only three passed.

One of the three deals with safe storage of weapons and provides free firearm locks. McFadyen-Ketchum stressed the safe storage of firearms is one of many priorities for Moms Demand Action.


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