EDITORIAL: Gun violence needs sustainable, community-wide solutions — let us hear from you

Published 4:55 pm Wednesday, October 6, 2021

Shots fired. It’s a phrase that has appeared in countless headlines and news articles in recent years, recording incidents of violent crime in our communities. Amid the global pandemic, violent crime has surged nationwide, but locally, the issue predates COVID-19. 

Milledgeville has seen more than its share of violent crime in recent years. And while we as journalists must report on these violent acts, we also carry a weight of responsibility in examining the crux of the issue in more detail. 

To delve deeper. To tap into its source. 

We’ve launched an ongoing series that aims to do that. Our series launched last month with a look at violent, gang-related crime from a regional standpoint, exploring the issue among communities covered by our sister newspapers in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and here in Georgia as well. Upcoming articles will look more specifically at underlying issues facing Milledgeville and Baldwin County, from education, to families, law enforcement, community outreach and beyond. 

Tuesday’s article focused on drive-by shootings and gangs. Upcoming, we will discuss the prosecution of such cases. 

We know that Milledgeville is certainly not the only community grappling with gangs and shootings. But ideally, our homes should be a place of refuge — a place to enjoy family and the company of others on our terms — not a place or a scene marred by this type of violence. No home should be sprayed with bullets. Children deserve safe spaces to learn and thrive. 

No resident should have to live in fear.

So what’s the solution?

To find that, we must first acknowledge that there’s a problem. Gun violence statistics tell us that hard truth. Then, we need to accept that there may not be a simple answer. It’s likely far more complex and multifaceted. We’d be the first to say that this issue won’t have an easy solution and the answer may not be what we think. What we do know, however, is we have to keep searching for it.

Our community must take it up as its charge to seek out that source and look for ways to eradicate it. This violence is a community issue not just a law enforcement issue, and the community plays a vital role in helping put it to an end. There is likely no one act — no singular community forum, no one-time effort — that will do that. Ending this can and will only be done through consistent and sustainable work — and everyone — law enforcement, community leaders and no matter the segment of town — must have buy-in. This type of work requires a frank examination of how things have reached this boiling point.

Violent crime and gang violence doesn’t just affect one neighborhood or one section of town. It attacks communities at their core. When one is affected, whole communities are impacted. It may not be your neighborhood today, but it could be one day.

Our goal is to start conversations in hopes of discovering workable solutions. These need to be sustainable conversations — long-term, deep discussions that create actionable plans for seeking solutions. You play a role in that. We want to hear your thoughts and we welcome your insight. Tell us what topics we need to explore. Email nlinder@unionrecorder.com to share your ideas. 

We all have a stake in this, no matter the neighborhood or section of town. 

Let’s fight it together.