Jefferson Shreve, a Republican candidate running for mayor of Indianapolis, introduced a public safety plan on Thursday that includes stricter gun control measures, aligning with similar policies advocated by his Democratic opponent.
According to Shreve’s campaign website, the proposal includes a ban on assault weapon sales, raising the legal age to purchase firearms from 18 to 21, and repealing permit-less carry. These measures aim to enhance public safety and address concerns surrounding gun violence in the city.
However, incumbent Democratic Mayor Joe Hogsett criticized Shreve’s plan, asserting that it merely replicates existing regulations already in place. Hogsett argued that his administration has already implemented effective measures to address gun control and public safety issues in Indianapolis.
The proposal’s introduction underscores the ongoing debate surrounding gun control policies and their impact on reducing crime rates. As the mayoral race in Indianapolis progresses, discussions on public safety strategies and approaches to addressing gun violence are expected to remain at the forefront of the candidates’ platforms.
“Crime is rampant in Indianapolis — and it calls for systemic change,” Shreve told reporters at a news conference Thursday following the plan’s release, according to the Indianapolis Star. “We’re on track to break yet another crime record this year,” Shreve added.
Shreve has emphasized public safety concerns as part of his campaign for mayor.
In early July, with Hogsett’s support, Indianapolis’ city council voted to pass a proposal that bans concealed carry, increases the legal carrying age to 21 and cracks down on permit-less carry. This would violate Indiana state law, which prevents local governments from regulating “the ownership, possession, carrying, transportation, registration, transfer, and storage of firearms, ammunition, and firearm accessories.”
“Today’s speech was a hodgepodge of repackaged programs that already exist and meaningless platitudes,” Blake Hesch, campaign manager for Hogsett, said in a statement regarding Shreve’s plan, according to the Indianapolis Star.
“Critics may say that Shreve policies on parts of this subject are not different from Mayor Hogsett’s,” the Shreve campaign acknowledged in the policy proposal. “The Shreve administration will advocate earnestly and on Day 1, not after session closes, for changes in state law to accommodate the crisis of violence plaguing our city,” the campaign added.