As a parent of three and a Georgia State Senator, the safety of my children and the well-being of all students in our state is always at the forefront of my mind. Yesterday’s tragic shooting at a Georgia high school is another painful reminder that we must act decisively and thoughtfully to end the all-too-common occurrence of these unfathomable tragedies.
No one wants to see children in danger—this is a value that transcends political ideologies. And while we may have different ideas about how to achieve safety, we can surely agree on the urgency of finding solutions that work.
When it comes to gun safety, some of the debate tends to get mired in political rhetoric. But this isn’t about scoring points—it’s about saving lives. We already know that gun violence is now the leading cause of death for children in the United States. This is not a fact that should alarm just one side of the aisle. It should disturb us all.
In Georgia, despite knowing that gun violence takes the lives of so many children, we’ve seen a series of legislative changes that have further endangered our kids. From permitless carry to guns allowed on college campuses, these policies have been enacted in the name of expanding rights, but they’ve also brought increased risks. I understand the desire to protect individual freedoms. As an elected official and proud American, I respect our Constitution and its Amendments. But like all rights, there comes a responsibility to ensure those freedoms don’t infringe on the safety of others, especially our children.
We’re not talking about radical changes. We’re talking about common-sense measures that the vast majority of Georgians— and Americans—support: universal background checks, red flag laws that temporarily prevent gun access for individuals in crisis, and safe storage laws to prevent accidental shootings and theft. These are not partisan issues. These are practical steps that respect the rights of law-abiding citizens, encourage safe gun ownership, and address the very real concerns of gun violence.
There are also misconceptions we need to clear up. Some people argue that any restriction on gun access is a violation of the Second Amendment. However, even rugged conservatives recognize that not all weapons can be unregulated. After all, we don’t allow private citizens to own explosives or automatic weapons, and no one claims this infringes on their freedom.
So what can we do moving forward? First, we need leadership from the Governor and the legislature to prioritize gun safety. We can’t keep waiting for federal solutions; Georgia must act now. Second, we must approach this issue with openness, and be willing to listen to law enforcement, educators, mental health experts, and the public.
Lastly, let’s move beyond the blame game. Pointing fingers gets us nowhere. I’m calling for a genuine, good-faith discussion that puts solutions above politics. We owe that much to our kids.
If we can commit to this, real change is possible — change that keeps our communities safe without compromising the freedoms that make us all Americans.
The post Georgia’s children deserve better: A bipartisan path to gun safety appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta .
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