Indiana Senators Mike Braun (left) and Todd Young (right) both oppose universal background checks for all gun sales, according to a WFYI article.
(Brandon Smith/IPB News)
Indiana Senators Mike Braun and Todd Young have emailed statements about the shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.
Sen. Young said he was deeply saddened and that his heart breaks for everyone who lost a loved one.
“They deserve answers on how and why this terrible event took place,” Young said. “All children and teachers deserve a safe and welcoming environment in our schools.”
Young also said that, while it was unclear if enforceable red flag laws could have had an impact in this situation, they give local law enforcement a better chance at stopping senseless attacks.
“Like a number of states, Indiana has a red flag law,” Young said. “And the federal government can come alongside these efforts and provide state and local government with more resources to best execute red flag laws.”
Young also said he will continue to support increased federal funding to improve mental health service access and the recruitment, development and retention of more mental health providers.
“We must work together as a nation to address the increasing social alienation and mental health challenges affecting too many Americans,” Young said.
Sen. Braun also mentioned red flag laws and mental illness in his Wednesday statement.
“We have to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill, which is why I support Indiana’s red flag law, which works well when it is utilized,” Braun said.
Braun said he is focused on solutions that can be enacted immediately, such as giving schools resources to enhance security systems and hire security staff and school resources offices to protect children, to “harden the soft target of our schools.”
Both Young and Braun have been endorsed by the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF).
Additionally, they have both received donations from the National Rifle Association (NRA), according to Brady United.
Young has received $2,897,582 in NRA donations and Braun has received $1,249,967 in NRA donations.
In 2016, then-Rep. Young submitted House Resolution 656, expressing the House’s sense that the Senate should not confirm a nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court whose professional record or statements display opposition to law-abiding gun owners’ Second Amendment freedoms. This includes the fundamental, individual right to keep and bear arms as affirmed in the cases, District of Columbia et al. v. Heller and McDonald et al. v. City of Chicago, Illinois, et al.
Young also sponsered the Taxpayers Second Amendment Act of 2016, H.R. 4824, which would prohibit a federal official or entity from restricting or imposing a condition on the lawful possession, storage, or use of a firearm by an individual who is assisted under a federal or a federally funded program.
The resolution was referred to the House Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice while the bill was referred to the House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations in 2016. No further action has been taken on either.
Braun co-sponsored the Gun Owner Registration Information Protection Act, S.702, in 2021 which would prohibit federal funding of, or support for, state databases that list firearms lawfully owned or possessed by individuals or individuals who lawfully own or possess firearms.
He also sponsored the Protecting the Right To Keep and Bear Arms Act of 2021, S. 1916, which would prohibit the President or the Department of Health and Human Services from declaring emergencies or disasters to impose gun control. The bill also would prohibit federal officials from banning the manufacture, sale or transfer of firearms or ammunition while acting in support of relief from a major disaster or emergency. Young was a co-sponsor on this bill.
Additionally, Braun was a co-sponsor on the Second Amendment Mandates Equality Act or SAME Act, S.1373, which would reduce the minimum age at which a person can obtain a handgun from a federally licensed gun dealer, manufacturer, importer or collector from 21 to 18.
S. 1916 and S. 1373 were referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary and S. 702 was referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Both Braun and Young oppose universal background checks for all gun sales, according to a WFYI article.
Neither senator commented on H.R 1446 or H.R. 8, two background check bills that were read by the Senate for the second time Wednesday.
