Rural counties aren’t escaping gun violence
RURAL COUNTIES IN INDIANA, JUL 7 – Rural Indiana experiences higher gun death rates due to weak laws and lack of safe storage requirements, with rural communities facing 40% more gun deaths than metropolitan areas, CDC data shows.
- A drunken brawl at a wedding reception in Salem, Indiana, on May 18, 2024, ended with a guest shot outside Cornerstone Hall.
- The conflict began with an argument between Jonathan Goff and his wife and escalated when Goff, angry and intoxicated, fled to a car where a handgun was kept.
- During a struggle for the gun between Goff and Corey Parker, Patrick McIntosh intervened and was wounded in the hand, later spending the night in the hospital.
- Indiana enacted a Red Flag law in 2005 allowing temporary firearm suspension for high-risk individuals, but rural counties like Washington and Scott rarely issue orders, reflecting gaps in enforcement.
- Weak gun laws, including lack of universal background checks and rejected safe storage bills, combined with mental health service shortages in rural areas, contribute to ongoing firearm-related incidents in Indiana.
7 Articles
7 Articles


Rural Indiana counties aren’t escaping gun violence
A wedding in Salem, Indiana took an unexpected turn when a parking lot argument led to a guest being injured. This incident sheds light on the rising issue of gun violence in rural areas, often overlooked compared to urban centers.
Rural counties aren't escaping gun violence • Indiana Capital Chronicle
Gun violence in rural towns is more prevalent – and growing faster -- than many people realize, gun control advocates say. (Getty Images)The wedding reception of Corey Parker and Bethany Lowe ended in a drunken brawl with a guest wounded from a gunshot outside Cornerstone Hall, advertised as “the perfect destination for a close-to-home and close-to-friends event” in Salem, Indiana, population 6,547. It began as an evening of celebration on May 1…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left, 50% of the sources are Center
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium