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By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
MAY 12, 2023 | When people start to think that it’s unsafe to be in a particular place, it’s time for action.
Metro Atlanta has been plagued in recent weeks with an unusual outcropping of shootings, taking place in the city, but also in suburbs around the city. So far, little has been advanced as a formula to halt this menace for Metro Atlanta.
If we continue to do little about it, the city, Metro Atlanta and the entire state will suffer more. Should these random shootings continue, eventually the area will see less commerce, fewer visitors and an overall downturn of business.
That makes it essential for our governments to take positive action immediately to curtail this continuing violence, centered around guns.
The unusual aspect of recent shootings is that many of them are committed not by hardened criminals, but by the youth (boys and girls). How they get these guns is questionable. But guns are in the hands of the young, who often shoot up a neighborhood, not maybe for criminal activities, but for what often are petty reasons.
Our Georgia Legislature has taken no action on this problem so far. However, this week there was a turning point, in that Democratic members called for a special session of the Legislature to tackle the problem. If even the Legislature of Texas can consider limiting guns, certainly the Georgia Legislature, and the Republican leadership which controls it, should consider this possibility.
What would it take to reduce the shootings? The City of Spartanburg, S.C. has initiated a gun buy-back program. Participants will receive $100 in VISA gift cards for handguns or long guns and $150 for high-powered weapons. The city said the money is coming from the city’s budget and businesses and community members who volunteered to donate.
Spartanburg Chief Alonzo Thompson says: “Thus far this year we’ve already had over 40 guns stolen from or taken with vehicles that were taken and this is putting guns out of the hands of folks who are suicidal or kids playing and accidentally shooting someone. Or you have people who will get the guns and use them for some kind of criminal means.”
Why not initiate such a program in Georgia? The money for the program could come from the state, since it has a surplus enough to give its taxpayers a rebate for 2022. Most of us would prefer reducing the shooting and killings by paying people to turn in their guns rather than get a rebate check, since it could make our communities safer. Perhaps the buy-back program could offer youth (payable to their parents) double the amount of rebates, since this might help move more guns off the street.
One thing for certain: our state, and in particular Metro Atlanta, must step forward with bold measures to reduce the all-too-often shootings. To do nothing is for our community to suffer more.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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