59,000 Elementary, Middle And High School Students Sign Pledge Against Gun ViIolence

SAVANNAH, GA – United States Attorney Edward Tarver announced that 59,000 students in Chatham, Richmond, Burke, Columbia, Evans, Liberty and Wilkes Counties joined with students across the nation to take the Student Pledge Against Gun Violence.

Students individually and voluntarily pledged to do their part to stop gun violence. Middle and High school students pledged that they will never take a gun to school, will never resolve a dispute with a gun and will use their influence to prevent friends from using guns to cause harm to others. Elementary students made a simpler commitment, pledging to not touch a gun, if they see one, to assume that any gun they see might be loaded and to make smart choices to keep themselves safe.

The Student Pledge Against Gun Violence is a national initiative that honors the role that young people, through their own decisions, can play in reducing gun violence. Held in conjunction with the Day of National Concern about Young People and Gun Violence, the initiative provides a means for teachers and community leaders to speak to young people about gun violence. Over 10 million students nationwide have signed the pledge since its inception in 1996.

In addition to providing the pledges to school leaders and students in the 43 counties that make up Georgia’s Southern District, the U.S. Attorney’s Office coordinated with community leaders and local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to provide speakers at several school assemblies to talk to students about what they can do to reduce gun violence in their communities.

U.S. Attorney Tarver stated, “I am extremely pleased to have received such an outstanding response from our schools and community leaders. To have 59,000 students engage in the conversation about gun violence will surely make an impact on the safety of our schools and communities. I would like to acknowledge each of the superintendents, members of the board of education, volunteer speakers and school program coordinators for their critical role in carrying out this initiative. This was truly a community effort, and one that I believe achieved great success.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia plans to continue the initiative on an annual basis with the goal of obtaining participation by every school in each of the District’s 43 counties. 

If you would like more information on The Student Pledge Against Gun Violence, please contact Nic Roberts at nicole.roberts@usdoj.gov or 912-652-4422.