Atlanta Public Schools adopt resolution to push ‘safe’ firearm storage

The Atlanta Board of Education, which governs the Atlanta Public School district, adopted a resolution to “promote safe and responsible storage of firearms.” It is an unusual resolution adoption because it is not education-related, but more of a public outreach effort.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that the public school district reacted this way due to the November shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan, which left four students dead. The student charged with the shooting and his parents are on trial, but the case is controversial because his parents are accused of knowing about their child’s erratic behavior and chose not to properly store a firearm that was used in the deadly shooting.

The board’s action pushed the district to work with law enforcement and non-profit groups to educate the community about proper firearms storage within their homes. Board Chair Jason Esteves said, “One of the simplest and most effective ways to get guns off the street, to prevent suicide amongst youth and to prevent school shootings is by having parents and family members store their guns securely and promote responsible gun ownership.”

It passed by a unanimous vote by the board members. Interestingly enough, the resolution’s adoption was backed by the Georgia affiliates of the national pro-gun control groups Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action. These groups are funded by former New York City mayor and failed 2020 Democratic Party presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg, who is a billionaire and an avid anti-gun rights activist.

Atlanta is also home to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which has been the focus of gun control groups seeking to give the CDC the authority to conduct studies on gun violence and public health.

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