John–

Last week, Students Demand Action volunteers were excited to head to the Indiana State Capitol for Advocacy Day to call on state lawmakers to act to prevent gun violence.

But amid all the advocacy work that these student leaders were doing, they were stopped on an elevator by Indiana State Rep. Jim Lucas. He asked them why they were there, and asked to "step outside and have a quick" conversation about guns.

This was the conversation in question: telling a group of high school students he was "carrying." And then Rep. Lucas proceeded to flash his gun at them.

The students knew immediately that they had to document this, so they took out their phones and began recording.

Our Indiana volunteers went to the Capitol to demand action on gun safety—not to feel threatened and unsafe because of a lawmaker. Share this post to let Rep. Lucas and his gun lobby allies know that we're not threatened by their scare tactics.

He told the group that if they wanted to have "adult conversations," they needed to be able to handle "adult situations." Well, Rep. Lucas, guns are the #1 killer of young people in America, so this isn't *just* an adult conversation—it's one that our students' lives depend on.

So if elected officials think instilling fear will deter the gun violence prevention movement?

Well, they're wrong.

These situations won't discourage our fight against gun violence—they're a reminder of why we show up, why we vote, and why we fight. Share this post to show the gun lobby that we aren't backing down.

Be loud, be confident, and let them know we're not stopping until we're heard.

Thank you for being in this movement,

Sarah Green
She/Her/Hers
National Organizing Director
Students Demand Action