WASHINGTON — From the House floor Wednesday, Congressman Morgan McGarvey, D-Louisville, recalled the day one year ago when a gunman opened fire in the Old National Bank, killing five coworkers.

“Spring’s ritual beauty was shattered by the unfamiliar booms of an AR-15, the acrid smell of smoke, sirens and screams,” he said.

After reading the names of the victims of the bank shooting and a second deadly shooting downtown that same day, Kentucky’s lone Democrat in Congress called on his colleagues to do more to stop gun violence.

“Days after the Old National Bank shooting, I stood on the steps of the Capitol with other members of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and asked the majority to bring gun safety legislation to the floor,” he said. “I’m here today, asking again for my colleagues across the aisle to work with us, like they have before, to make our communities safer.”

McGarvey has co-sponsored at least 12 bills related to the issue. None have passed the Republican-controlled House.

“I've signed and co-sponsored legislation for safe storage, for universal background checks, for banning assault rifles,” he said. “I've signed discharge petitions to bring those bills to the floor, and we would love for our colleagues across the aisle to bring these up for a vote.”

Days after the bank shooting, Rep. James Comer, R-Tompkinsville, said he didn't think stricter gun regulations were the answer.

“Unfortunately, we can't legislate against evil," Comer said in April 2023. "We have evil people in America, and we have people that have mental health crises in America ... not just in Kentucky, but all over America. We have more mental health issues with our children than I think we’re really aware of.”

Last month, Mayor Craig Greenberg, D-Louisville, attended the State of the Union address as a guest of Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky.

Greenberg said though he and Paul may disagree on how to address gun violence, they are continuing to look for ways to work together.