Members of the Clayton County Board of Education, as well as Clayton County District Attorney Tasha Mosley, Clayton County Police Chief Kevin Roberts, and a private firearms instructor, appear in a new public service announcement aimed at raising gun safety awareness.
Mary Baker (District 6), Board Chair Jessie Goree, Victoria Williams (District 4), Joy Tellis Cooper (District 8), and firearms instructor Daphne Jordan of Packing Pretty Firearms, LLC also appear in the video:
SCRIPT
Baker: “Citizens of Clayton County: I’m here to speak for the kids of Clayton County. More and more, our kids are gaining access to guns. They are harming themselves and each other. We lock our cars. We lock our houses. Let’s lock up our guns.”
Mosley: “This year alone, the District Attorney’s office has seen a rise in violent cases involving guns, as well as accidental incidents. My office is prosecuting more than a dozen cases involving guns where these situations could have been avoided. Citizens of Clayton County: we need to put the guns down. Not only are our older citizens losing their lives to gun violence, but our babies are dying, too.”
Roberts: “As the police chief, I’ve already seen an increase in violent crime in Clayton County this year. Many of our violent crimes are committed with firearms. Our agency has viewed numerous videos of subjects committing thefts from vehicles. Oftentimes, firearms are stolen from those vehicles. I’m requesting that the citizens secure their firearms to help reduce our gun-related violent crimes. That is why the Clayton County Police Department is partnering with the Clayton County Board of Education and the Clayton County DA’s Office on this gun safety event.”
Goree: “Some of you may have guns in your homes. But let’s ensure that we keep our children safe by placing a lock on your gun and keeping it in a safe place, so that your children, who are our children, can’t have access to your gun.”
Williams: “By law, most adults are allowed to own a gun. This means that, even if there isn’t a gun at your house, you need to know what to do if you see a gun. If you see a gun, follow these four steps. One: Stop. Two: Don’t touch. Three: Get away. Four: Tell an adult. When you follow these steps, you’re protecting yourself and helping to keep each other safe.”
Roberts: “In closing, I want to offer a couple of gun safety tips. When securing your weapon, whether at home or in your vehicle, a gun safe or lockbox is an optimal choice. We want to also ensure that we keep firearms out of the view of children as much as possible. Finally, if you’re a new gun owner, please seek out some form of firearms training.”
Jordan: “We have a duty and responsibility as gun owners to keep our guns in a safe place. Our guns should be stored in biometric gun safes. Or, you can use a gun lock to secure them. Kids are always watching us, so make sure you lock up your guns and help to save lives.”
Cooper: “Parents, please lock your guns up to keep your guns out of the wrong hands. Guns kill innocent people every year. Let’s be responsible and do our part.”
Goree: “The life you save may be your own.”
The video was produced by Clayton County Access Television.
Transparency note: Jordan and Clayton Crescent editor Robin Kemp appeared together in a 2018 Atlantan story about women who shoot.
What about a PSA as part of an anti-litter campaign, along with do not litter signs. I would much rather see signs discouraging litter than the signs promoting Commissioner’s town hall meetings, which are county-funded campaign signs. The litter is a major problem. No serious developer wants to build anything of quality in a dirty county.