INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – City-County Councilman William “Duke” Oliver will introduce a resolution Monday night that is designed to curb the gun violence that took a toddler’s life and has fueled a record murder total in the city.
“Proposal 112 is a special resolution which urges the Indiana General Assembly to support a ban on assault weapons and high capacity magazines,” said the east side Democrat. “What does the community want to do about guns and violence in our community? This is a process that will begin the process of discussion on that very issue which is guns and violence in our community. Start with the assault weapon as a starting point, not an ending point, but a starting point on qualifications, interviews, what kind of person should be allowed to obtain a weapon, background checks, etc. etc.”
Indiana law prohibits cities, towns, mayors and councils from passing their own gun ordinances, so Oliver’s plea would first need to pass out of the council, gain Mayor Joe Hogsett’s signature, and then find favor in the Republican-controlled state legislature at the other end of Market Street.
“It’s not the assault rifle but the people that have them. Let’s enforce the laws that we have on the books instead of trying to find a scapegoat,” said State Senator Jack Sandlin, a south side Republican and former city-county councilman and retired Indianapolis police commander. “I would say to Duke Oliver, let’s look at what we’re doing in Indianapolis regarding mental health services. Let’s look in Indianapolis to see what we’re prosecuting for violations of the current gun laws. Let’s do those things that will really have an impact. This won’t have any.”
One-year-old Malaysia Robson was fatally wounded when the house where she slept was riddled with 44 gunshots on the morning
