INDIANAPOLIS – On Sunday evening, religious leaders held a candlelight vigil in honor of the lives lost to gun violence this year, including those at the FedEx facility.

Dozens of Butler-Tarkington community members as well as religious leaders carrying lighted candles gathered outside the governor’s house to call for change and action on gun violence.

“Let’s get the guns out of the hands of the people – let’s be sure. Specifically, we are advocating, we are here at the governor’s mansion and we are calling for gun violence to be declared a public health crisis, ”said Shawn Coons, pastor of the Fairview Presbyterian Church.

This is the pressing message coming from several congregations in the Butler-Tarkington community. It’s so urgent that they carried their voices from the parking lot to the governor’s house.

“It is time for us to act. Thoughts and prayers are no longer enough. We believe that as people of faith we are called to put our faith into action, ”said Leah Gunning Francis, vice president of academic affairs at Christian Theological Seminary.

They want to be able to walk freely and prevent the numbness from spreading throughout the community.

“I’m a parent, I’m a neighbor, I’m a member of the community and involved with the children in the area, and yes, they are traumatized,” said Gunning Francis.

These are the 78 lives that have been lost this year. And they are calling for change before this list grows any further.

“Any loss of life is tragic. When it comes to a loss of life that can be avoided, it is even more tragic and we all bear some responsibility, especially when it comes to gun violence, ”Coons said.