At Indiana's Capitol on Tuesday, Republican State Representative Jim Lucas revealed his concealed firearm to a group of teenage gun control advocates.
The five students, who were part of a protest organized by a local chapter of the Everytown for Gun Safety advocacy group, were approached by Lucas who inquired about their presence at the Capitol.
The conversation took a contentious turn when Lucas defended gun rights, asserting that Americans are not "truly free" unless they are equipped to defend themselves. When queried by a student if this meant carrying a firearm, Lucas responded by opening his jacket and stating, "Im carrying right now."
This revelation was met with apprehension by one of the students who expressed, "Nothing about someone carrying a gun makes me feel safe." The exchange was captured on video by one of the students and later circulated by local news outlets.
Lucas subsequently addressed the incident on social media, expressing his concern for those who fear firearms, which he considers the best means of self-defense. He wrote, "I fear for, and pity those that are being indoctrinated to fear that which is their best means of self-defense. People are also being indoctrinated to depend on government for their 'safety,' even when shown that government has clearly ruled that government doesnt have the duty to protect us."
Alana Trissel, a 17-year-old student involved in the incident, shared her experience with The Associated Press. She described how the conversation "took a turn for the worst" after Lucas revealed his gun. "Since a state legislator had shown a weapon, I felt all the more powerless," she said. "I felt scared. I felt alone. I was timid and almost petrified with fear."
Lucas has previously been in the national spotlight following his arrest in May 2023 on charges of driving while intoxicated and abandoning his car after a crash. He was arrested by a state trooper from ISP-Versailles Post and faced multiple charges, including endangerment and leaving the scene of a crash.
Lucas pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges and was sentenced to supervised probation for one year, ordered to pay $4,000 in restitution, and required to enter an alcohol and drug abuse program. His probation was cut short after six months by a judge's agreement.
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