Latest news with #NationalGunViolenceAwarenessMonth
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
Mississippi among states with highest gun sales: report
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – A recent report revealed that Mississippi is a major home for firearm purchases. America is often synonymous with weapons. More than two in five households own at least one gun. data found that a similar dynamic exists in Mississippi; the website found that the state has the 10th highest rate of gun purchases. Last year, Mississippi sold 217,458 guns. Though that is a 4.3% decrease compared to 2023, sales for 2025 will likely be very similar. Between January through April, the state sold 70,344 guns. Many of those weapons are purchased for recreation. The state's national forests provide over a million acres of land available to the public for hunting. Common game includes white-tailed deer, wild turkey, quail, squirrel, rabbit, raccoon and waterfowl. However, other uses of firearms present dangers for many Mississippians. Jackson groups advocate for gun violence victims Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that Mississippi led the country in firearm deaths. June commemorates National Gun Violence Awareness Month. In 2023, the gun violence death rate in the state continued to exceed the national death rate, a trend observed for decades. Firearms are the leading cause of death among children in the United States. Recognizing this, the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) recommended that people implement the SMART method. Secure all guns at home and in vehicles Model responsible behavior around guns Ask about unsecured guns in other homes Recognize the role of guns in suicide Tell others about SMART For those new to or considering firearm ownership, the state offers handgun training courses at three sites throughout the state, including one location in Canton. For those interested, visit the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks (MDWFP) website. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
'They killed him and left him in the neighbor's yard', Augusta event calls for unity in face of gun violence
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)- June is National Gun Violence Awareness Month and it is to raise awareness for gun violence in the United States. Phyllis Jackson knows first-hand about gun violence. In 2019 Jackson's 22-year-old son was shot and killed. 'My son, Gerald Waldon, was killed here in Augusta, he befriended an individual at work. And that individual, along with three others, came to came to the house, lured my son out of the home, and literally within the same neighborhood, they had planned to kill him. And they did just that. They killed him and left him in the neighbor's yard.' Ever since that tragic event, Jackson has been helping to raise awareness about the danger of guns. RELATED STORY: Witnesses talk about man killed in Walton Acres 'Kids are supposed to be able to be kids. Teenagers are supposed to be able to be teenagers. We can't afford to allow our kids to continue to go to the schools, go to malls, go to the grocery stores and have to worry if our child is going to come home. It's vitally important that we do something about it as a community. And if we're voting someone in in that position that we hold them accountable to do the same.' She hopes the community will come to an event Friday night. An 'Evening of Remembrance and Call to Action' will be held in downtown Augusta. 'This event will show everyone that the community stands together in hard times and good times. And in this event, we are remembering those that have been lost to gun violence. And we want to show those that are affected indirectly that you have a part to play in the rebuilding and standing together as one.' If you plan to attend, wear orange as that is the national color for gun violence awareness. The event will be held at the Jessye Norman Amphitheater beginning at 6pm, click here to 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Gun-related deaths continue to be a public health emergency in New Mexico, NMDOH says
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – June is National Gun Violence Awareness Month, and the New Mexico Department of Health says gun-related deaths continue to be a public health emergency in the state. Story continues below Community:ABQ bus driver speaks out on her experience of safety issues on Central route News:Homeland Security: 11 people arrested at New Mexico dairy were 'undocumented' Trending:Mexican gray wolf Asha gives birth to litter of pups Food: Two Albuquerque restaurants make Yelp's 'Top 50 Cheap Eats' list Between 2019 and 2023, firearms were the second leading cause of death for children aged 1-18, and in 2023 alone, there were 530 firearm-related deaths in the state, including homicide, suicide, and accidents, NMDOH stated in a news release. In addition, the age-adjusted firearm death rate in New Mexico (25.3 per 100,000 residents) is the fifth highest in the United States. 'Gun-related deaths are one of the leading causes of death in children and teens in New Mexico,' Dr. Miranda Durham, NMDOH chief medical officer, stated in the release. 'Securing firearms is a proven strategy to reduce gun violence and to keep our communities and our children safe.' NMDOH encourages residents to wear orange during the weekend of June 6-8 to help raise awareness on the impact of gun violence. The department also reminded residents that they can get free cable gun locks by requesting them online here. The Safe Storage New Mexico program has distributed 11,000 of these locks to New Mexicans since the start of 2025. If you are in crisis, call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. Additional resources are available at the New Mexico Suicide Prevention Coalition website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Yahoo
Gun violence awareness event in Augusta to take place Friday
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – In recognition of National Gun Violence Awareness Month, Moms Demand Action and Georgia Shift will host an 'Evening of Remembrance and Call to Action' event in Augusta on Friday. The event, schedule for June 6, will take place at the Jessye Norman Amphitheater & Plaza 15 8th Street at 6 p.m., according to organizers. Sheriff Eugene Brantley, various Augusta Commissioners, judicial leaders, faith leaders and others are expected to be present. The event is free and open to the public. Attendants are encouraged to wear orange, which represents the national color for gun violence awareness. A balloon release will also be held. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
04-06-2025
- General
- Axios
Why gun switches are becoming more prevalent in Philly
"The sound of war" — that's how Philly police commissioner Kevin Bethel described the rapid gunfire that shattered a recent Memorial Day celebration in Fairmount Park. The big picture: Police believe one of at least three shooters in last month's deadly attack used a firearm equipped with a switch — an illegal device that's becoming a "major issue" in Philadelphia, deputy commissioner Frank Vanore tells Axios. The devices, which can essentially turn pistols into machine guns, have been used in multiple shootings across the city in the past few years, Vanore says. They're being seized more regularly by law enforcement officials in Philly and across the U.S. The latest: Police now believe that six guns were used in the May 26 mass shooting that killed two people and injured nine others, Vanore told Axios following Tuesday's National Gun Violence Awareness Month event at City Hall. Police initially believed at least three shooters were involved, but new evidence raises questions about the possibility of additional shooters or ones armed with multiple guns, Vanore says. Police do not have much surveillance footage of the shooting, so they're "working through" other pieces of evidence to crack the case, Vanore says. No arrests have been made. By the numbers: Philadelphia police have already recovered at least 57 guns equipped with switches this year, per police data provided to Axios. 294 of more than 11,400 guns recovered in 2023 and 2024 — or about 2.5% — were equipped with some form of illegal conversion device, per the data. Threat level: The converted automatic weapons can fire several rounds in seconds with a single pull of a trigger, Vanore says. Switches are becoming more popular because they're easy to buy off the internet, for as cheap as $25, and can be installed with the help of a YouTube tutorial, Vanore tells Axios. They can also be created with 3-D printers. What they're saying: Switches are now a "status symbol" among criminals, says Greg Lickenbrock, director of investigations at gun violence prevention group Everytown for Gun Safety. "It's an intimidation factor," he tells Axios. "It's very easy for a simple altercation to turn into a shootout." Police are"doing everything we can" to eliminate them, Vanore says, and stop potential skirmishes from escalating into violence. Officers will be redeployed from school areas to places where young people typically gather — including parks and community centers — during summer, historically Philly's most violent season, Vanore says. Last summer, Mayor Cherelle Parker signed a bill that banned people from possessing, producing, buying and transferring gun switches and similar rapid-fire devices in Philly. Zoom out: The use of these gun conversion devices, often marketed under common counterfeit trade names like "Glock Switch," has exploded nationally, ATF spokesperson Ben Benson tells Axios.
