Local moms are stepping in to stop cycle of gun deaths

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Gun deaths have been an issue in the CSRA for a while now, and they’re not slowing down.

More than 100 people have been killed in a surge of violence – mostly gun-related deaths – across the CSRA since April 2022.

In 2022, 10 children in the region ages 17 and under were killed by a gun. We are only halfway through 2023 and four children have already been shot and killed.

The most recent one is 4-year-old Phoenix Daniels, who accidentally shot herself with her dad’s unsecured gun. Charges against him have been upgraded to murder, we learned Wednesday.

Phoenix struggled to survive weeks after the may shooting in grovetown.

Police said the gun had been converted to be fully automatic, and the father left it on the floor upstairs before taking a phone call downstairs.

It’s a grim reminder shootings are now the leading cause of death for kids according to the CDC.

On average, more than 1,800 people die by guns in Georgia on a yearly basis.

The state is No. 47 in the country for strength of gun laws.

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Gun violence costs Georgia $23.9 billion each year, but families pay the price in pain.

That’s why Ellie Benson and Ashley Siler brought Moms Demand Action, a national gun safety organization, to Augusta.

Siler says they fight for public safety measures, hold meetings, and offer programs for common-sense gun education.

Their top program is safe gun storage, to avoid having accidents like what happened to Phoenix.

They are out in the community, talking to teens who have the ability to change the future and how they approach situations so that lives aren’t lost, and talking to parents on how to put away guns so that they don’t fall into the wrong hands.

“I still have an 18-year-old. And I worry every time he leaves the door,” said Tia Jones.

A worry that she will get a familiar call.

“When that incident happened in January, with little Arbrie I boohooed in this living room because that was a baby. Me and my son, Kevin, talked about it every time I’ve seen it on the news,” she said.

She’s talking about the murder of an 8 year old girl, in a drive by shooting. She was petting a pony in her neighborhood when she was shot and killed.

“The next week, it was a double murder of the two young ladies. I never imagined the next week would be my son,” said Jones.

Kevin Coatney, along with 10 other children, lost their lives to gun violence last year.

“Our kids are being killed, by the hands of guns, and it’s just senseless. And it’s happening more and more,” said Jones.

At least four children have already died from gun violence this year.

It’s why these mothers are springing into action. Last year, Siler started a local chapter of Moms Demand Action.

“We may have different opinions about what the gun laws should look like. We may have different opinions on politicians, and all that kind of thing. But everyone agrees that we want to keep guns out of the hands of children,” said Siler.

Moms Demand Action offers programs teaching how to safely secure guns.

“It’s an easy program. It’s accessible. Everyone can do it. It doesn’t require legislation, it doesn’t require trying to talk to politicians or getting laws changed. It just takes talking to your friends over coffee, or you know, sitting at the park while your children play,” said Siler.

Focusing on the future to prevent hurt.

“We can’t change the tragedies of the past as much as we wish we could. We are working to put measures in place to prevent future gun violence,” said Siler.

Making sure more children return home at night.

“I don’t wish this pain on any other mother or family,” said Jones.

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