The conviction of Jennifer Crumbley earlier this month served as a warning shot to parents across America that they need to lock up their firearms. It was an unprecedented case that held the mother of the Michigan mass school shooter accountable for her son’s actions. Part of the prosecution pivoted on the fact that the gun used in the murders was not securely stored.  

Moms Demand Action has been advocating for secure storage legislation since 2012, and dozens of local advocates traveled to the Georgia Capitol to carry their message directly to lawmakers.

“For the Moms Demand Action chapter, it was important to go to Atlanta because legislators need to hear the message that secure storage is a nonpartisan issue we can all agree on”, said Kathryn Wagner, co-leader of the local Savannah Chapter. “For me personally, it was important to go to honor the gun violence survivors in our community. We honor them with action.”

Alderwoman Linda Wilder Bryan, who was one of the many surviving parents who traveled to Atlanta to advocate for secure storage of firearms legislation, said, “Dealing with the loss of my youngest and only son, who was stolen due to homicide, is something that no mother should ever have to endure.”

The Alderwoman’s son, Lawrence Bryan IV, was shot in Savannah just after midnight on August 7, 2015. “The killing and loss of a beloved one, so suddenly, leaves you unprepared, so mentally exhausted, and sometimes full of guilt,” she said. 

“The killing of young men, especially young Black men, to homicide is becoming a norm all over the USA. As mothers and survivors, we must take time to feel the grief and experience the pain of the loss. We need to fight for real change; this is my constant, and should be the call to action from the village. We can’t wait until another parent gets that knock at the door.”

Representative Anne Allen Westbrook (D-163) said, “The focus this session is on safe storage of firearms. I am happy that my Republican colleagues are finally starting to come around, because keeping children safe should be bipartisan. And firearms are now the leading cause of death for Georgia’s children and teens.”

There are multiple bills being considered this legislative session, ranging from exempting the purchases of safe storage devices from sales tax (SB 340), to other bills that would require owners of firearms to secure them around children and in their vehicles (HB 161 and HB 1111).

“People have a right to possess firearms, but rights have to be exercised in a way that doesn’t endanger others,” continued Westbrook.  

“Georgia’s police chiefs have been urging citizens to lock up guns in vehicles, because that is what thieves are looking for when they break in to cars. Safe storage bills are all about creating a culture of safety for Georgia’s families and communities.”

Several members of the Savannah Moms Demand Action delegation spoke with Senator Ben Watson (R-1) to thank him for his vote on SB 340.  

“We are not going to repeal the Second Amendment, so we need guns safe”, replied Senator Watson.

When discussing gun safety issues with members of the Savannah Moms Demand Action chapter, Representative Ron Stephens (R-164) touted his support of HB 971 and said, “It promotes the safe storage of guns without a mandate”.

When asked about the Pediatric Health Safe Storage Act, Stephens said, “I think that Newton’s bill (HB 971) will encourage where we are trying to go.

Representative Jesse Petrea (R-166), who also supports the bill to offer tax credits to purchasers of safe storage devices said, “Criminalizing a parent who had a horrible accident in their home is not appropriate.”

Laurie Mcneil, co-leader of the local Savannah Chapter, said, “Firearms are the number one cause of death for children and teens. I feel it’s important to show our lawmakers that people support measures like HB 161, the Pediatric Health Safe Storage Act, because it will absolutely save lives. I lost three friends during the course of my childhood due to unsecured parental weapons, including a teenaged friend who was unintentionally shot and killed by the child she was babysitting, and these tragedies continue to happen with shocking regularity. The good news is that we can do something about it, and that’s requiring parents and caregivers to secure their weapons – it’s an easy fix to save lives!”

Kerri McGinty, legislative lead for the Savannah chapter of Moms Demand Action, said, “I think it’s important to build relationships with legislators and face to face interaction does that in a way that a call or letter may not. This is in no way to mean that those calls aren’t important, because they also let legislators know how many people share our concerns. 

Specific to the bills we were advocating for I think it’s necessary to pass laws that require people safely store their firearms, particularly around children, because failing to do so is resulting too often in those firearms getting into the wrong hands. We’ve had a long and costly experiment in leaving it to chance. The data is in, and doing nothing isn’t working.”

Alderwoman Linda Wilder Bryan pledges, “Every time there is a bus leaving on Moms Demand Action Advocacy Day, I’ll be there with other moms demanding real time action.”

Moms Demand Action Advocacy Day is an annual event, and the local contingent leaves Savannah together at 3:30 a.m.

You can find out more information on your local Savannah Moms Demand Action chapter on Facebook – the group’s next meeting is Wednesday, March 13th at 7:00 p.m. at Starland Yard.

Georgia legislation currently being considered:

HB 161 – The Pediatric Health Safe Storage Act:

This bill is co-sponsored by Representative Carl Gilliard (D-162), and if passed, this legislation would require people to securely store their guns around children.

The bill received a hearing in the House Public Safety & Homeland Security Subcommittee, but will not get a vote in that committee.

Bill sponsors and Moms Demand Action advocates want the bill to be moved to the Public Health Committee, and are encouraging Georgians to call Speaker Jon Burns at (404) 656-5020.

HB 161 was the first gun safety bill to receive a hearing in six years, and it was largely due to advocacy by Moms Demand Action.

Representative Sharon Cooper, chairman of the Public Health Committee has pledged to give the bill a hearing and a vote if it is transferred to her committee. When asked by members of the Savannah delegation of Moms Demand Action, Representative Cooper said, “I’m for storage of guns”.

It is unlikely that this bill will pass during the 2024 legislative session as Crossover Day is Feb. 29.  

If the bill is recommitted to the House Public Health Committee, it could see movement during the 2025 legislative session.  

HB 1111:

This bill addresses secure safety of firearms in vehicles.  This bill is in the House Public Safety & Homeland Security Subcommittee, and it is unlikely that it will receive a hearing.

HB 971 – Firearm Safe Handling and Secure Storage Tax Credit Act:

This bill is co-sponsored by Representative Bill Hitchens (R-161), and is in the Ways and Means committee.  This bill will likely pass the House and be sent over to the Senate for consideration.

SB 340:

This bill is co-sponsored by Senator Ben Watson (R-1), and passed the Senate on February 13, 2024.  The bill is now in the House for consideration.  If passed, this legislation will exempt firearm safes and safety devices from sales tax.

This article appears in Connect Savannah I February 2024.