Target: Frank Ginn, State Senator for Georgia’s 47th District
Goal: Support secure gun storage and access prevention in wake of deadly school shooting.
In 2023, the FBI reportedly received numerous tips regarding online threats of a school shooting. They referred the matter to the sheriff’s department for the Georgia town where the alleged perpetrator of the threats, Colt Gray, lived. Investigating authorities apparently received assurances from the then-13-year-old’s father that the boy did not have access to the multiple firearms reportedly in the home. Authorities did not have probable cause – or the legal ability — to take any further action. By year’s end, Gray’s father had allegedly purchased a gun and given it to his son as a gift. Months later, the Appalachee High School student would become the prime suspect in a mass shooting at the school that reportedly claimed the lives of two students and two faculty members.
Colt Gray’s father, Colin Gray, has since been arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter and second-degree murder. But despite the charges, current Georgia law does not hold Colin Gray – or any other adult – accountable for irresponsible storage of and access to his guns. Statistics indicate that more than half of gun owners across the country do not properly secure firearms in the home. Only about half of states have safe storage laws that mandate locking up firearms, and even less require gun owners to take further preventive steps such as leaving stored guns unloaded.
As a consequence, too often family members in crisis gain easy access to these firearms. The results are tragic, ending in accidental killings, suicide, or murder. Many guns are also stolen every year from homes, and they end up in criminal hands.
Georgia legislators have discussed implementing storage laws multiple times, but politics always prevents the needed action. Sign the petition below to demand these representatives of the people fight for reforms that could save constituent’s lives.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Senator Ginn,
The tragedy that unfolded at Appalachee High School is a case study in what happens when elected leaders fail to honor their oaths to serve the people. Several months ago, both chambers of Georgia’s legislature passed separate firearm storage bills. Yet this legislature could not come together and join the 26 other states that currently have such laws on the books. The conversation was saved for another session.
And now, four people are dead, many more are wounded, and a community is shattered. While the arrests of Colt Gray and his father may bring some degree of short-term closure, what of the countless other killings and suicides that have and that will continue to destroy lives because gun owners cannot honor their responsibilities? You recently stated that “we need to take some action on things. Firearms are not the enemy. The enemy is the mentally deranged.”
So, where are the laws that prevent “the mentally deranged” from gaining unfettered access to a deadly weapon? Red flag laws, secure storage laws, and child access prevention laws should not be a political issue. They should be an issue of common sense and decency. Your district and your constituents are now in the spotlight, so ensure the moment is not lost to create a life-saving legacy.
Put action behind your words and behind your thoughts and prayers. Fight for these integral measures like lives depend on it…because they most assuredly do.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Toxic Player
GA needs better laws. Any father who would give his son a gift of a gun after being informed his son has problems mentally, should be taken out and shot. This father doomed 4 people to their deaths. If GA can’t put this man on trial then change the laws or get rid of ALL guns in homes. This 14 year old will be tried for the 4 deaths. He will spend the rest of his life behind bars. He Amy be helped mentally but the won’t lessen his sentence. A wasted life to ad to the other 4 lives wasted. The father needs to face the same punishment. Parents are often the problem we don’t know about until tragedy strikes. Guns need to be under scrutiny and no guns in schools!
Russia is sitting back laughing at us. They give millions to the NRA they give it to republicon campaigns who use it to get elected and they stop any legislation of gun control. Russia along with the NRA and republicons have put guns in the hands of our children and sowed chaos! Under 21 can’t buy alcohol or cigarettes or pot but they can buy a gun, only one of these things kills people other than the user. The father has been charged with murder, these gun nuts scream about books, gays, trans, teachers, etc but yet they put a gun in the hands of their child.