LEXINGTON, Ky. — Lexington city leaders are continuing their work in addressing gun violence in the city. Tuesday, the Lexington council’s Social Services and Public Safety Committee heard from a task force established by District 11 councilwoman Jennifer Reynolds.

What You Need To Know

  • Lexington councilwoman Jennifer Reynolds introduced the task force to the city's public safety committee last year 

  • Tuesday the public safety committee moved to have the recommendations presented to the full council 

  • Community members say it's a start but more action is needed 

  • Some recommendations include declaring gun violence a public health crisis

Recommendations from the gun violence task force are moving out of committee and to the full council after the committee voted unanimously to do so. Community members involved in the task force say it’s a start, but a lot of work still needs to be done.

“I’m not taking it as a victory because there has to be action behind the words today. That motion has to come with action,” said Tonya Lindsey, founder of Sisters and Supporters Working Against Gun Violence.

Lindsey was one of many community members who worked along with city leaders on the task force. Lindsey’s son, Ezavion, was shot and killed in 2013 when he was just 16 years old.

“This impact is not our choice, and we are always at the end of the totem pole. There is so much more that can be done because it’s a ripple. Some of us have other children, some of us have fathers and mothers that’s been impacted,” Lindsey said.

The task force recommends that Lexington Fayette Urban County Government declare gun violence a public health crisis, establish a gun violence awareness month and $75,000 to create the position of gun violence program coordinator among other things.

“I don’t think we need to wait until fiscal year ‘26. I think we need to do it now. We will have fund balance,” said Chuck Ellinger, at-large councilman.

The recommendation also requests to give the new position a budget of $75,000 in the first year. Ellinger said fund balance expenses are usually spent on onetime expenses.

“I think this is a special situation that we can make a difference and make a difference now. Let’s not wait until next year and have to be back here again and have other people holding up signs,” Ellinger said.

For Tonya Lindsey and other survivors of gun violence, the pain never goes away. They hope putting faces with a problem shows city leaders and other residents the seriousness of the issue.

“If we get this going in the right direction and it’s sustainable, then there won’t be another Ms. Harris, Ms. Clark, Ms. Gatewood, Ms. Sandifer,” Lindsey said.

At this time, the task force does not plan to be an annual occurrence, but some council members expressed their interest in moving forward to make it meet every year.

Many of the recommendations require further action from the Lexington Fayette Urban County Council to be enacted.

A full list of the task force’s recommendations can be found in the presentation from Tuesday’s committee meeting.

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