Dear Family & Friends,

Help us implement safety measures for everyone who serves and strives to participate in our Council meetings. Did you know that our KY Constitution and KRS 237.115 law, allows people to conceal and carry guns into our Kentucky City buildings and Council Chambers? Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shares that Kentucky has the 16th-highest rate of gun violence in the US. According to the National Violent Death Reporting System (NDRS), from 2013 to 2022, the rate of gun deaths in Kentucky increased by 38%, which is higher than the national increase of 36%. In 2024, the summer had the smallest increase in gun violence victimizations since 2018. Public safety and the safety of elected officials is an urgent matter, especially since there are continued threats and violence against current and past elected officials like KY District Judge Kevin Mullins (RIP) who was recently shot and killed inside his Chambers and with the assassination attempts on President Trump. I have also personally experienced harassment and feel threatened because one of the men who was attacking/harassing me shared that he brings a gun to our City Council meetings. Safety is a concern and the safety of our council, administration, community members, and everyone is important to me. Everyone who serves and attends our council meetings should be safe. 

In a recent poll in the Erlanger - Elsmere Community Group Facebook page, approximately 78% of our community members voted that they feel people other than Police Officers should not have guns in the City Building or Council Chambers. While we are not trying to infringe on anyone’s 2nd Amendment rights, we are concerned about everyone’s safety. According to our local Telecommunications Board of Northern Kentucky who televises our meetings, a Hybrid style meeting is an option. This option will allow anyone who wants to attend in person to do so, while also accommodating those who don’t carry guns or may have concerns about feeling unsafe in a confined space with people who have guns on them during a city council meeting. A Hybrid meeting will also accommodate Elsmere community members and public servants who:

• have medical condition(s) that prevent them from attending in person. (Late summer/September, I requested an ADA-Americans w/Disabilities Act accommodation so that I can attend our meetings hybrid/virtually due to my disability, but the city has not yet complied. Prayerfully this petition will help everyone with disabilities be included and accommodated.)
• have children but are unable to bring them to an in-person meeting.
• can’t take off work, but can take a break at work and participate in our meeting virtually.
• have transportation barriers and can’t travel to our city building for the meeting.

I have served our NKY communities for over 30 years and as the daughter/wife/granddaughter of US Military Veterans and the daughter of a retired Police Officer, I respect and support people and their Second (2nd) Amendment rights. Additionally, I also respect the “right to life, liberty, and personal security” of everyone, including people who don’t carry guns. As an Elsmere Councilwoman and Missionary I want to ensure that we are valuing, including, and accommodating every member of our community. Please sign this petition urging Mayor Marty Lenhof and the Elsmere City Council to be inclusive and value every member of our community by providing a Virtual Hybrid option to attend and participate in our Council & Caucus meetings so that everyone has a choice and a voice in their safety and security. Please learn more about me and support my service to our community and Commonwealth by signing on to my letter of support as the Elsmere City Council is spending over $10,000 of taxpayer money to remove me from my elected position instead of providing a disability accommodation so I can safely serve. Please see past meeting records below that show Mayor Lenhof & the Elsmere City Council allowed two other Council members to attend meetings virtually in 2021 & 2022.

Thank you and blessings to you and yours,

Serena Owen, MAT

(Councilwoman, Educator, Mentor, Missionary)

SOURCES:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. Underlying Cause of Death
National Violent Death Reporting System (NDRS)