Georgia Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action Respond to Sunday Shooting in DeKalb County

The Georgia chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, released the following statement in response to a shooting in DeKalb County on Sunday night that left three people dead and three other seriously wounded. According to reports, officers responded to a report of a person shot in Clarkston on Sunday evening and found five people shot at the Brannon Hills condominium complex, three of whom were pronounced dead on the scene. A sixth person arrived at an area hospital in serious condition shortly after.

“We are heartbroken over this latest tragedy,” said Sharmaine Brown, a volunteer with the Georgia chapter of Moms Demand Action. “This shooting serves as yet another painful reminder that our state’s weak gun laws have an enormous human cost. Despite our state’s ongoing gun violence crisis, lawmakers spent the entire session working to further dismantle our gun laws, and now our communities will pay the price.” 

Following the passage of permitless carry last month, Georgia now lacks all foundational gun safety laws, putting the state’s gun law strength at only 11.5 out of 100 and leaving Georgia communities and first responders vulnerable to increased levels of violence.

In an average year, 1,693 people die by guns in the state of Georgia, and 4,492 more are wounded. Guns are the leading cause of death among children and teens in Georgia. Gun violence costs Georgia $12.0 billion each year, of which $581.3 million is paid by taxpayers. More information on gun violence in Georgia is available here.

If you would like to speak with a Georgia Moms Demand Action or Students Demand Action volunteer, please do not hesitate to reach out.