The Georgia chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots networks, released the following statement after one individual was shot and killed and seven individuals were shot and wounded in a shooting near Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, Georgia. Details are still developing.
“Our hearts are with those impacted by last night’s tragic shooting,” said LaTayla Billingslea, a volunteer with Students Demand Action in Georgia. “Gun violence should not be part of the college experience yet, due to our lax gun laws, it far too often is. Our lawmakers need to take action, by passing common sense gun safety laws and funding violence interruption programs, otherwise we will keep seeing these tragedies over and over.”
Community-based violence intervention programs apply an effective, localized approach to gun violence prevention, providing evidence and community-informed, comprehensive support to individuals who are at greatest risk of gunshot victimization. These programs are shown to reduce gunshot wounds and deaths in the neighborhoods most impacted by gun violence.
In an average year, 1,603 people die and 4,492 people are wounded by guns in Georgia. Georgia currently has the 6th-highest rate of gun injuries in the U.S. Gun violence costs Georgia $12.0 billion each year, of which $581.3 million is paid by taxpayers. More information about gun violence in Georgia here.