At a press conference, Louisville, Kentucky, mayor Craig Greenberg told journalists that a Kentucky state law bars him from destroying a gun used in a recent mass shooting.
In an emotional press conference, Greenberg detailed how Kentucky state law precludes individuals from destroying guns.
“Think about that,” Greenberg said. “That murder weapon will be back on the streets one day under Kentucky’s current law.”
“Let us destroy illegal guns and destroy the guns that have been used to kill our friends and kill our neighbors. We have to do more than we’ve already done. Let’s change the state laws that would make me a criminal for trying too hard to stop the real evil criminals who are taking other people’s lives.”
Louisville officials are reeling after the shooting event.
Connor Sturgeon, 23, an employee at the Old National Bank, killed eight people on Monday morning. Eight people, including two responding officers, were injured by the gunfire. Two victims remain in critical condition.
The gunman live-streamed the event on Instagram.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) said he was a close friend of one of the people killed in the shooting.
“I’ll admit that while I am not angry, I am empty. And I’m sad. And I just keep thinking that maybe we’ll wake up,” Beshear said. “What I know is, I just wish I’d taken an extra moment, made an extra call, tell him how much I care about him. And I know we are all feeling the same. But I also know they hear us now. And that they feel our love.”
