Enough is Enough: It’s Time for Action on Gun Violence and Mental Health

By State Representative Sandra Scott (D-Rex)

(550 words)

Guns, guns, everywhere! Gun violence has breached our front doors and invaded our schools, our homes and our communities. It is a relentless epidemic that devastates lives and shatters our sense of safety. The question now is, "What are we going to do about it?"

Georgia General Assembly, how many more teachers and students must die before we enact common-sense gun legislation? Schools are meant to be sanctuaries for our children, not battlegrounds where they practice military drills to stay safe. Our students are growing up in fear, which impairs their ability to learn and thrive. It's time for decisive action.

We need the Georgia General Assembly to step up and address our failing gun laws with urgency. It is crucial to work collaboratively with military and mental health professionals to tackle this crisis head-on.

As I express my condolences to the families, students, teachers and parents of Apalachee High School, my heart hurts. It was Apalachee High School yesterday, and it could be yours today.

Here is what needs to be done:

1. House Bill 4: HB 4 would establish an electronic inpatient bed registry through the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. This would ensure real-time data on available mental health resources, improving our response to crises.
2. House Bill 553: HB 553 would implement temporary ex parte risk protection orders to prevent individuals deemed a threat from accessing firearms, ammunition and weapon carry licenses. This measure is crucial for stopping potential tragedies before they occur.
3. House Bill 224: HB 224 would mandate that lost or stolen firearms be reported to law enforcement within five days. Failure to do so should result in a fine. This is a necessary step to prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands.
4. House Bill 366: HB 366 would require gun owners to secure their firearms properly when not in use to prevent access by unauthorized users, especially children. Violations should be treated seriously with penalties to ensure compliance.
5. House Bill 554: HB 554 would prohibit the sale of semiautomatic assault weapons to individuals under 21. It is a common-sense measure to keep dangerous weapons out of the hands of those too young to responsibly handle them.
6. House Bill 555: HB 555 would ban devices that enable rapid fire on firearms. These accessories only increase the lethality of gun violence and have no place in our communities.
7. House Resolution 56: HB 56 would acknowledge gun violence as a public health crisis and call for data-driven legislation to address it effectively. This resolution underscores the need for actionable and research-backed solutions.
8. House Bill 7: HB 7 would establish a school-linked behavioral health grant program to provide essential mental health services within schools. Ensuring access to mental health support is crucial for preventing violence and supporting at-risk students.
9. House Bill 8: HB 8 would adjust school attendance policies to consider mental and behavioral health. Recognizing and accommodating these needs will help ensure that students receive the support they require to succeed.

The time for empty rhetoric is over. We need action that prioritizes the safety and well-being of our communities. It's time for the Georgia General Assembly to come together, put aside partisan divides and implement these critical measures. Our children's lives depend on it.

Representative Sandra Scott represents the citizens of District 76, which includes portions of Clayton County. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2010 and currently serves as the Minority Caucus Chief Deputy Whip. She also serves on the Banks & Banking, Defense & Veterans Affairs, Human Relations & Aging, Insurance and Reapportionment and Redistricting committees.

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