Atlanta, G.A. — On Thursday, the Georgia chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, released the following statement applauding the creation of a secure storage committee during the 2024 legislative session. This exploratory committee will investigate safe storage proposals for Georgia, including tax incentives or a statewide promotional program, like Governor Cooper’s S.A.F.E initiative (Secure All Firearms Effectively) implemented last year. This serves as an integral first step to build public awareness around the importance of, and best practices for, secure storage, including in cars, at a time when gun thefts from cars are at an all-time high, and carry the additional risk of fueling future violence.
“This step demonstrates a commitment to safeguarding our communities by fostering discussions on safe storage proposals and prioritizing responsible gun ownership to ensure a safer environment for our families,” said Dr. Sofia Chaudhary, a pediatrician, Moms Demand Action volunteer and volunteer for the Be SMART program in Georgia. “These horrific shootings are not accidents, since they are preventable, and this committee can serve as a key step to educate Georgians on the importance of secure storage, ultimately saving lives and building a safer future for those across the Peach State.”
When guns aren’t properly stored, tragedy can strike – whether it’s a child finding a firearm and injuring or killing themselves, or someone stealing it and using it to commit a crime. Secure gun storage can prevent both. Every year, 350 children living in America under the age of 18 gain access to a firearm and unintentionally shoot themselves or someone else, like a sibling, parent, friend, or another person.
Warner Robins, Georgia also ranks fifth in the nation for rates of guns stolen from cars. Secure storage of firearms is an issue that concerns everyone, and the creation of this new committee creates a stepping stone to promoting awareness to keep everyone, especially our kids, safe.
For over ten years, Moms Demand Action volunteers have been at the forefront of fighting the gun lobby’s priorities, including two years ago, when lawmakers repealed Georgia’s firearm carry permitting system, allowing gun owners to carry guns in public without a background check. As this legislative session came to a close a day after the year mark of the mass shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville Tennessee, where three children and three adults were shot and killed, Moms Demand Action and Student Demand Action volunteers look forward to continuing to partner with lawmakers to advance policies that promote safe and responsible gun ownership, like secure storage which is proven to help prevent unauthorized access of firearms by children.
Georgia suffers from some of the weakest gun laws in the country – in an average year, 1,868 people die by guns in Georgia, and 4,321 more are wounded. If Georgia had the gun death rate of our National Leaders—the eight states with the strongest gun safety laws—we could save 17,987 lives in the next decade. Guns are the leading cause of death among children and teens in Georgia. To speak to a Georgia volunteer with Moms Demand Action, a volunteer with Students Demand Action, or a policy expert, please contact [email protected].
