GA House Democrats Gathered On National Gun Violence Awareness Day; Want Tougher Gun Laws

GEORGIA — Georgia’s Democratic Caucus met Friday morning on the steps of the Capitol to call for more gun laws on National Gun Violence Day.

“The Georgia House Democratic Caucus stands in solidarity with all victims and families who have been impacted by gun violence,” the Caucus wrote on social media Thursday.“We will gather tomorrow on the South Wing Steps of the Capitol to speak out against the lack of gun safety and to urge the GOP to take action by passing critical gun control legislation.”

A message seeking a comment wasn’t immediately returned.

The caucus is pushing for stricter gun control laws after recent mass shootings have taken place across the country. Last week an 18-year-old gunman killed 19 students and two teachers at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas; Wednesday a gunman shot and killed four people, including himself at a medical office in Tulsa, Oklahoma; and last month an 18-year-old opened fire in a predominately Black Buffalo supermarket grocery store.

“We need our children to feel safe,” Rep. Sandra Scott said. “We must do something and we must do it now.”

Scott said “common sense” gun safety laws are necessary and that means legislation that requires background checks.

Gov. Brian Kemp in April signed a law that allows Georgians to carry handguns without a license. Senate Bill 319, commonly called the Georgia Constitutional Carry Act, became law.

"We want all Georgians to be able to rightly defend themselves," Kemp said during a news conference right before the signing. "SB319 makes sure law-abiding Georgians, including our daughters and your family, too, can protect themselves without having to get permission from your state government. The Constitution of the United States gives us that right — not the government."

Georgia Democrats have argued that the new gun law makes it easier for criminals and the mentally ill to carry guns in public places like movie theaters and churches.

President Joe Biden addressed the nation Thursday evening appealing for tougher gun laws. Enough, enough," Biden exclaimed over and over Thursday night, as he delivered an impassioned address to the nation imploring Congress to take action against gun violence after mass shootings he said had turned schools, supermarkets and other everyday places into "killing fields."

If legislators fail to act, he warned, voters should use their "outrage" to turn it into a central issue in November's midterm elections.

He repeated calls to restore a ban on the sale of assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines — and said if Congress won't embrace all of his proposals, it must at least find compromises like keeping firearms from those with mental health issues or raising the age to buy assault-style weapons from 18 to 21.

"How much more carnage are we willing to accept?

Across the country cities and groups are doing their part to curb gun violence. There’s a National Gun Violence Awareness Day rally planned for DC, a gun buyback event scheduled in California this weekend, Massachusetts high school students are holding a walkout Friday morning, and more.