Indianapolis has experienced heartbreaking violence this summer.
Violence and shootings have often increased during summer months, typically peaking on July 4 and 5 — a combination of warm weather, increased gatherings, increased drinking and youth left out of school. Indianapolis is no different. This past 4th of July weekend, five people tragically lost their lives. Two of them — Xavion Jackson and Azareaon S. Cole — were teenagers.
These people are more than headlines. They are people who loved and were loved; now, our community is left grieving.
It’s hard to find words to ease the pain of those who have lost loved ones to gun violence or who have experienced gun violence themselves. We need parents, grandparents, community leaders, pastors and elected officials to all come together to keep our children safe. That means investing in our schools, after-school programs and good-paying jobs. But it also means commonsense gun reforms to ensure weapons don’t end up in the wrong hands.
This summer, I introduced the Gun Safety Incentive Act. My bill provides a 10% tax credit on certain firearm safes and safe storage devices and establishes best practices for safe firearm storage. Many families in Indianapolis have guns in the home to protect themselves. But it’s essential those guns don’t end up in the wrong hands — whether they are stolen, used by children by accident, or used to attempt to harm oneself.
As a former law enforcement officer, I can tell you that having unsecured guns in the home is dangerous. About 1 in 3 children under the age of 18 live in a household with a firearm. Among those, more than a third have reported personally handling an unsecured gun in the home — often without their parents’ knowledge.
My bill promotes safe gun storage practices by providing a federal tax credit for individuals who purchase certified firearm safes and secure storage devices. Tragically, Indianapolis has experienced deaths due to children handling unsecured firearms.
My bill provides simple solutions that can save lives by incentivizing safe gun storage. It will be easier than ever for households to make smart choices. The Gun Safety Incentive Act would:
- Establish a 10% tax credit on certified firearm safes and storage devices through 2030 for purchased certified firearm safes and secure storage devices.
- Direct the Department of Justice (DOJ) to establish voluntary best practices for safe firearm storage and to publish online and in print for public accessibility.
- Impose labeling requirements on specified handgun, rifle and shotgun manufacturers to provide a clear and conspicuous notice on packaging that says, “Safe Storage Saves Lives” along with the address of the public website providing best practices established by the DOJ.
- Provide grant funding for the development, implementation and evaluation of Safe Firearm Storage Assistance Programs, community-based efforts that promote secure storage practices through education, outreach and local community partnerships.
This is not the only step I’m taking to make our community safer. I’m advocating for other common sense guns safety measures, like universal background checks.
We also cannot address gun violence without addressing the root causes: Poverty. Food deserts. Education deserts. Housing instability. Lack of opportunities and poor conflict resolution skills.
These factors can all lead to dangerous scenarios that end with lives lost and lives changed forever. I’ve secured millions of dollars in federal Community Project Funding to support on-the-ground public safety efforts, from after-school programming to transformational life coaching to help those who are at-risk receive the tools they need to start a new path. Plus, I’ve secured funding for new software and technology to ensure bad actors are held accountable.
We’ve made some progress. Indianapolis homicide rates have decreased, declining for the last three years. But even one family torn apart is too many. One life destroyed by gun violence is unacceptable.
As we continue to grapple with this issue, the most effective solutions to solving community gun violence will come from the community itself.I want to hear your recommendations —you can send me a message by visiting carson.house.gov or by contacting my office at 317-283-6516.
Thank you for continuing to raise your voice and stand with me in the fight for a safer future. Together, we can build a stronger, safer country for all.
