West Virginians concerned about gun violence are rallying this weekend to put pressure on lawmakers to pass gun-safety measures in the wake of mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas; Buffalo, New York; and elsewhere. The rally is at noon Saturday at the State Capitol.

The U.S. House passed a bill Thursday to nationalize "red flag" laws, allowing a court to temporarily block a person deemed to be a danger to themselves or others from purchasing firearms.

Fred Albert, president of the American Federation of Teachers-West Virginia, said he has recently spoken with Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and believes Manchin will take action on the issue.

"He definitely supports doing something that is going to help," Albert stated. "And what that something is? I guess they're debating that right now in Congress."

Earlier this week, the senator told CNN he would support raising the gun-purchasing age to 21.

The Giffords Law Center said West Virginia does not require residents to get a background check or a permit to carry a loaded, concealed gun in public.

In 2020, the Mountain State had the 14th-highest gun-death rate in the nation. Opponents of stricter gun-safety laws argued they penalize law-abiding gun owners and do not reduce violent crime.

Albert added teachers, students and parents across the country are grappling with unprecedented levels of trauma and grief. But he pointed out there are evidenced-based gun violence prevention practices and policies to help keep communities safe.

"We cannot continue down this path of what's happening in our schools, in our grocery stores, in our churches, in our hospitals," Albert stressed. "Something has to be done."

A 2019 study in the Journal of Rural Health found states implementing background checks for all gun sales saw death rates 15% lower than states without background-check laws. It also found state laws banning people convicted of violent crimes from owning guns meant an 18% reduction in homicides.

A bill to make it more difficult for local police to enforce federal gun laws and in some cases criminally penalize them, now heads to Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear's desk.

Kentucky lawmakers have secured enough votes to override a veto of House Bill 153, which bans state and local law enforcement and other public officials from enforcing federal firearms regulations enacted after Jan. 1, 2021.

Cathy Hobart, a volunteer for Kentucky Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, said she is concerned the measure could hamper efforts to protect communities from rising levels of gun violence.

"What we know is that the more guns that are in circulation, the more likely they are to be stolen, the more likely they are to get into the hands of people that have no business having those guns like children and criminals," Hobart pointed out.

According to Mental Health America, 85% of suicide attempts with a firearm result in death. More than 800 Kentuckians died by suicide in 2020, and 65% involved a firearm.

Kentuckians in crisis can call 988 24 hours a day, seven days a week to speak with suicide prevention and mental health counselors.

Hobart added it is not up to states to decide which federal laws they are going to enforce. She also pointed out the legislation's vague wording could create confusion among police officers.

"It makes it difficult for law enforcement to know which laws to enforce," Hobart contended. "That will lead to confusion, we think it will lead to more gun crime in the long run."

Supporters of the bill argue the federal government, not the state of Kentucky, is responsible for enforcing its own gun laws. Last week President Biden signed an executive order strengthening background check requirements for firearms dealers.


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As the National Rifle Association gears up for annual events next month in Indianapolis, another group is speaking out about rightful handgun ownership and accessibility as gun-related crimes increase. In advance of the NRA get-together, the group Hoosiers Concerned About Gun Violence will hold a "Teach-In," to help shift the dialogue to focus on the surplus of firearms that contributes to an already violent society.

Jerry King, Hoosiers Concerned About Gun Violence, said it is proposing more background checks and improved enforcement of Indiana's so-called Red Flag Law to address gun-related incidents - including suicide, domestic violence and homicide.

"We live in a nation, we live in a city, in a state that's just awash with guns. And so we focus, really, in on that particular problem," King said.

King added he understands many people will not readily relinquish their firearms, and his group would support legislation to limit sales and possession of assault weapons. The Teach-In event is scheduled for April 8th. Hoosiers Concerned About Gun Violence was created in 1992 when a teen fatally shot his parents after purchasing a weapon from a local gun store.

King said his nonprofit also was vocal in its opposition to Governor Eric Holcomb's signing of House Bill 1296 into law last year, allowing people to carry guns without a license or permit.

"We just think that was the most reckless and foolish policy measure - and so, we are interested in a campaign that might see that very, very bad law reversed," King said.

His group will also launch a leadership development program for 16-to-22-year-olds this fall, King said, focusing on conflict resolution, civic engagement and principles of democracy. The NRA events are coming up in downtown Indianapolis April 14th to 16th.

Michigan faith leaders are meeting with members of the state Legislature to push for action on gun safety.

House leaders, including Rep. Joe Tate, D-Detroit, and several others, are attending a Monday forum with the Council of Baptist Pastors and the group End Gun Violence Michigan. Democratic leaders, already working to pass gun violence legislation, are now "fast-tracking" the bills in the wake of last month's deadly shooting at Michigan State University.

Ryan Bates, communications director for End Gun Violence Michigan, said the pastors will also discuss the effect gun violence is having on their congregations.

"Faith leaders are coming together with elected leaders to discuss the reality and the challenges that neighborhoods are facing, and to hear what legislators are doing about gun violence," Bates explained.

Lawmakers are considering a package of firearms safety bills, including universal background checks, safe storage requirements, and red flag laws allowing judges to temporarily confiscate guns from individuals deemed to be unsafe. The forum is at the Jordan Missionary Baptist Church in Detroit.

The Feb. 13 shooting left three MSU students dead and critically injured five others. But Bates noted it was not an isolated incident. Every year, 1,270 people die, and guns wound more than 2,400 in Michigan.

He emphasized they hope to humanize the grim statistics.

"We'll be hearing from survivors of gun violence -- parents who've lost their children -- who want more to be done," Bates pointed out. "We know that the goal of ending gun violence, and having a state where all of our children come home from school or from a birthday party, that's going to take a lot of work."