Georgia House Democrats call for a special session to address gun violence after Apalachee shooting

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State Rep. Billy Mitchell speaks at a press conference advocating for legislation to prevent gun violence on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024 — days after a deadly school shooting in Georgia.

Credit: Sarah Kallis/GPB News

In the wake of a deadly shooting at Apalachee High School in Barrow County, Democratic state representatives and mothers gathered at the state capitol on Friday to advocate for legislation aimed at preventing gun violence. 

State Rep. Michelle Au sponsored several bills that aimed to combat gun violence in 2024's legislative session. One of those bills would have criminalized unsafe gun storage around minors. The bill never made it out of the house public safety committee.

“Gun violence is not a political issue, right?" she said. "We've made it one. But that's not what it is at its core. Gun violence is a deeply human issue."

Au said she will file the bill again next legislative session, and wants it assigned to the public health committee. 

The House Democrats want Gov. Brian Kemp to call a special legislative session for gun safety bills.  A Kemp spokesperson said that now is not the time for politics, but the governor is committed to ensuring law enforcement has the resources they need to respond to threats.

One of the mothers, Stella Silva Garcia, said her son's school was targeted in an online threat of copycat shootings.

Her son, Lucas, showed her a social media post of a gun with text over it saying his middle school is "next" on Thursday night. 

“We are physically, emotionally traumatizing these children,” she said.

Garcia described the situation as a nightmare. Lucas’ school was not closed, but additional law enforcement officers monitored the school. Garcia said that Georgia's lack of gun control laws is frustrating to her. 

The Georgia Bureau of Investigations said it is investigating threats made against schools around the state.