Local Headlines & Updates:
- Community leaders held an End the Gun Violence rally organized by Savannah Impact Program to teach children about gun dangers.
- Fun activities like bouncy house, basketball, dancing, hot dogs, and hamburgers engaged youth while reinforcing anti-violence messaging.
- Organizer Latoyia Daniels said they teach effects, causes, and use positive reinforcement to steer youth away from guns.
- A coffin and funeral home presence underscored fatal consequences; Chief Lenny Gunther stressed community responsibility and irreversible finality.
Savannah Impact Program organizes the annual event.
SAVANNAH, Ga. —
The number of violent crime incidents with guns in Savannah may be down compared to a year ago, but it is still too high for Savannah leaders.
According to the most recent numbers from the Savannah Police Department, violent crime in the city has dropped 14% compared with the end of May last year, from 435 incidents to 374 so far this year through May.
But city police leaders were out Friday to make a point that even more needs to be done in communities.
End the gun violence now — that was the message in Savannah as community leaders came together to teach kids the dangers of gun violence.
There was a bouncy house, basketball games, dancing and people having fun, along with hot dogs and hamburgers for the city’s youth. But the underlying message Friday at the Savannah Impact Program was a serious one: end gun violence now.
“We try to explain to them the effects, the causes and what happens, and so with that, we try to bring out a program to show them about not just having fun, but we want to have positive reinforcement,” said Latoyia Daniels, Savannah Impact Program coordinator.
“Today is Gun Awareness Day,” said Chief Lenny Gunther of the Savannah Police Department. And, you know, it’s our responsibility as a community, as law enforcement, to bring awareness to everyone about the consequences of gun violence.”
And while there was plenty of fun and games, this End the Gun Violence event also had a serious tone, as evidenced by the coffin that was in place to show the consequences of that gun violence.
“And that’s what we want to show them — that this is not a game,” said Daniels. “Mothers are crying. Families are hurting. You can’t take back when that gun reaches your hand. Guns don’t hurt people; people hurt people. And we want that to stop.”
“There is no reset button when you make a decision to pick up a gun and pull that trigger,” said Gunther. “So yeah, there is finality in it. And that’s why the funeral home is here to show that inevitable path.”
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