INDIANAPOLIS–A candlelight vigil was held Sunday night to honor the victims who have died from what faith leaders call “gun violence.” The vigil ended with them telling Governor Holcomb and other lawmakers to take action on what many of them call a “public health crisis.”
“We are calling on Governor Holcomb as well as Senator (Todd) Young and Senator (Mike) Braun to advocate on both the state and federal levels for universal background checks to be required for all gun purchases as well as bans on assault-style weapons,” said Gunning Francis, vice president of academic affairs at Christian Theological Seminary. “We call upon our governor to make sure that mental healthcare is available to all people.”
Faith leaders mentioned the victims of the mass shooting at a FedEx ground facility in Indianapolis back on April 15. They also read off the names of the 78 victims who have died by way of gunfire so far in 2021.
“Three mass shootings and 78 deaths by gun. These are our neighbors,” said one woman who attended.
Fairview Presbyterian Church Pastor Shawn Coons was one of the faith leaders who spoke.
“We grieve for those who are killed and those whose lives are forever changed. We pray for a change of heart for those who resort to violence,” said Coons.
Eight people were killed in a mass shooting at a FedEx ground facility in Indianapolis April 15.
LISTEN: Part of the Vigil Sunday
