© 2024 Louisville Public Media

Public Files:
89.3 WFPL · 90.5 WUOL-FM · 91.9 WFPK

For assistance accessing our public files, please contact info@lpm.org or call 502-814-6500
89.3 WFPL News | 90.5 WUOL Classical 91.9 WFPK Music | KyCIR Investigations
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Stream: News Music Classical

Church and Local Leaders Seek Community Solutions to Gun Violence

A panel of Jefferson County leaders including Third District Congressman John Yarmuth and Jefferson County Public Schools superintendent Donna Hargens will convene this month to discuss ways the community can reduce gun violence. St. Matthew's Episcopal Church recently passed a resolution urging an end to the sale of semi-automatic weapons and urging support of adequate funding for mental health. “We don’t intend this to be political, though obviously it’s a political issue but our intent is this is a moral issue,” says Bob Nesmith, the church’s event coordinator. Nesmith says the panel is not about gun control, but about sensible solutions to gun violence, but he acknowledges it’ll be a challenge to change Kentucky laws and says it starts with the local community. “First we have to change public opinion in order to support those legislators who are interested in changing. This is an attempt to inform the public and possibly change some opinions,” he says. The forum follows shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut last year that left 20 students and six adults dead. Scheduled to join Yarmuth and Hargens on the panel at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church later this month is Commonwealth’s Attorney Tom Wine.