Over 27,000 Students Pledge Against Gun Violence

United States Attorney Bill Nettles announces that on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015, members of the United States Attorney’s Office and their local, state, and federal law enforcement partners meet with students from across South Carolina, as part of South Carolina’s 14th annual Student Pledge Against Gun Violence. With a focus on keeping their schools and communities safe, students in middle school and high school will sign a voluntary pledge promising that they will never take a gun to school, will never resolve a dispute with a gun, and will use their influence to prevent friends from using guns to resolve disputes. Elementary school children will make a simpler commitment, pledging that if they see a gun they will not touch it, they will assume that any gun they see might be loaded, and they will tell a teacher or a trusted adult. The effort is part of South Carolina’s Project Cease Fire, which is South Carolina’s implementation of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods program, which is aimed at reducing gun violence. The Student Pledge Against Gun Violence is a national program that recognizes the role that young people, through their own decisions, can play in reducing gun violence. This campaign against youth gun violence culminates each October in a “Day of National Concern about Young People and Gun Violence.” The program provides a means for beginning the conversation with young people about gun violence. Students from around the country will join together in pledging to do their part to end gun violence. Over the years, millions of students nationwide have signed the pledge. Nettles said that, just as in years past, the response to the pledge campaign has been outstanding, with approximately 27,832 students from 60 schools across the state agreeing to take part. “Our office is pleased to take this opportunity to reach out to South Carolina students with an effort to engage students, teachers, and administrators to facilitate a dialogue with students about gun violence and the importance of making good decisions,” stated Nettles. The U.S. Attorney’s Office worked with schools, student resource officers, and law enforcement agencies throughout the state to make the pledges available, providing the pledges to participating schools as well as scheduling presentations for some 28 of the schools that requested speakers. For additional information concerning the pledge, visit the national Student Pledge website at www.pledge.org.