GOP lawmaker who flashed gun at students says their fear of firearms is the problem

In the wake of outrage over flashing his gun to a group of high school students, Indiana GOP Rep. Jim Lucas is facing growing calls for him to issue an apology. But according to Lucas, the problem is with the students, The Statehouse File reported.

Lucas was captured on video opening his suit jacket and flashing a holstered pistol to students visiting the Statehouse in Indianapolis to voice their concerns about guns violence.

"I'm carrying one right now," Lucas said before flashing the gun.

"See, nothing about that makes me feel safe," a student behind the camera said. "Nothing about carrying a gun makes me feel safe. It makes me feel threatened."

"Okay, those are feelings," Lucas shot back. "I'm talking facts. I'm talking facts."

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In a Facebook post this Wednesday, Lucas responded to the outrage, saying he pities those "that are being indoctrinated to fear that which is their best means of self defense."

“People are also being indoctrinated to depend on government for their ‘safety,’ even when shown that government has clearly ruled that government doesn’t have the duty to protect us," Lucas wrote.

Lucas also defended his actions in comments to The Statehouse File.

“I just wanted to show that everyday people carry, and they are out every day among people that they have no idea are carrying, who are doing no harm, who are not threatening anybody," he said.

"They simply want to have the ability to defend themselves and their loved ones from people who aren't stopped by laws who aren't stopped by morality,” Lucas said. “And that's one of the questions I asked them … to please give me a law that I could submit and hopefully pass that will stop people that aren't being stopped by the hundreds of laws already on the books.”

Read the full report at The Statehouse File.