State policy helped make this happen.
Community members and leaders came together during a community candlelight vigil at Jug Tavern Park, Wednesday, September 4, 2024, in Winder. Four people were killed and nine others were taken to various hospitals after a shooting at Apalachee High School in Barrow County, the GBI said Wednesday afternoon. One person was in custody, the state agency confirmed. Photo by Hyosub Shin / Atlanta Journal Constitution via Cherokee Tribune Ledger-News.
Yesterday, my opponent and I spoke to the Fraternal Order or Police (FOP) in Cobb. But the whole time I was in that lodge, my mind was 50 miles away. In Winder.
When the news came in about Apalachee High School, Jack (16) and I were sitting on the porch. The first thing he said to me said it all: “It’s not even surprising anymore. That’s kinda sad.”
It sure as f*ck is.
My kids do more active shooter drills than tornado or fire drills. And their mom and I worry more about them going to school than about anywhere else in their routines. I was so glad they were home, yesterday.
And a few hours later at the FOP, when it was my turn to speak, I pivoted from my prepared remarks to talk about common-sense gun laws that can protect our kids and our first responders—all without infringing our our right to bear arms.
What did John Albers have to say? For ten minutes, he talked generically about first responders and waxed patriot about 9/11. But at no point did he acknowledge the tragedy that unfolded mere hours before.
And why would he. He helped make it happen:
He sponsored and voted to loosen firearm restrictions in public places (2022, 2021)
He voted to authorize concealed carry at colleges and universities (2016)
He voted to authorize concealed carry at K-12 schools (2014)
He voted to loosen open carry and possession laws (2022)
And he’s opposed nearly every study and common-sense gun control measure in our State Senate, helping to make us the 4th worst state in the country for gun violence prevention (Everytown).
I don’t say this to politicize a tragedy. I don’t have to. Through action and inaction, many of our elected officials—my opponent included—have done that themselves.
Today, I’m heartbroken. I suspect a lot of us are. But we can do something—and soon. Remember this feeling when you step into the voting booth in a few weeks. It’s time to put the love of our children above our love of guns.
State policy can keep this from happening again.
A North Texas teacher marching in the March for Our Lives rally held in Denton, Texas on March 24th, 2018. Photo by Heather Mount on Unsplash.
What can we do at the state level to protect ourselves from the pandemic of gun violence while still respecting the rights of law-abiding gun owners? A lot.
A meta analysis of what works in other states and recommendations from groups like The International Association of Chiefs of Police and Everytown for Gun Safety offer a wide range of common-sense gun-safety solutions we can explore at the state level:
Enact secure firearm storage laws
Enact extreme risk “red flag”laws
Require a “cooling off” waiting period for all handgun sales
Close the gun shop loophole that currently bypasses NICS background checks
Raise the age to purchase semi-automatic firearms to 21 (it’s currentl;y 18 for long guns on GA)
Prohibit sale of assault weapons, trigger cranks, bump stocks, high capacity magazines, suppressors, and armor-piercing rounds
Require training for concealed-carry permits
Eliminate concealed-carry permit reciprocity with other states
Prohibit concealed carry on school grounds at all levels
Enact parental liability laws for minors who commit gun crimes
Enact a state-level “Juvenile Brady” law to prohibit those minors from owning guns in the future
We can tackle gun-violence recidivism by establishing a state-wide firearms registry for individuals convicted of felony firearm violations or misdemeanors that involve violence or threatening acts with a firearm. Firearm offenders have a higher recidivism rate than do criminal sexual offenders. In parity with a comprehensive extreme-risk system, we can take a proactive smart-on-crime approach that protects law-abiding gun-owners and focuses law-enforcement energies on those at greatest risk.
And most importantly, we can use our votes to change the legislature and its public safety leadership.
The work of making our state safer will be the work of many additive corrections across many touchpoints and with many stakeholders. But for the sake of our kids—and for the sake of making Georgia the kind of place people aren't afraid to live and work and go to school in—we have to start. And we can’t afford to wait another day.
JD JORDAN FOR GEORGIA STATE SENATE DISTRICT 56
For anyone in East Cobb, Roswell, or Woodstock alarmed by the state’s escalating attacks on our bodies, our families, our doctors’ offices, our classrooms and libraries, even our polling places, I’m running for State Senate district 56 to fight for our freedoms and to deliver a better future for everyone in Georgia.
And unlike my opponent who’s spent 14 years rolling back our freedoms, failing to safeguard our kids, and gerrymandered his district to stay in office, I promise to bring everyone in the 56—regardless of ideology—the best possible constituent experience so you feel heard, valued, and supported. As we all deserve to be.
I’m running for the 56. Let’s make a better Georgia for all of us.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT
Jordan For Georgia, LLC
10800 Alpharetta Hwy Ste 208 #629
Roswell, GA 30076-1467
jdjordan@forthe56.com
706.804.0456
