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Tag: State Rep. Tanya Miller

  • Georgia State Rep. Tanya Miller: Gov. Kemp Boasts of Failure While Our Children Bear its Burden

    Georgia State Rep. Tanya Miller: Gov. Kemp Boasts of Failure While Our Children Bear its Burden

    Just weeks into the new school year, a tragedy unfolded at Apalachee High School. A troubled 14-year-old, armed with an AR-style rifle, shot and killed four people—two students and two teachers—leaving nine more critically injured. As our community reels, Governor Brian Kemp offers the same tired response: thoughts, prayers, and a call for “investigation” instead of action.

    But how many more investigations do we need? How many more children need to die before we stop hiding behind hollow platitudes and do something to prevent the next tragedy? It’s time for leadership, and it’s time for action. What Republicans are offering is too little, too late. 

    For years, Republican leaders in Georgia have prioritized guns over public safety. Governor Kemp’s first gubernatorial campaign in 2018 was built on promises to loosen gun restrictions. He even ran a TV ad where he pointed a rifle, point blank, at a teenage boy. Then, in 2022, he signed Senate Bill 319 into law, allowing both open and concealed carry without a permit, without fingerprinting, and without background checks or safety training.

    Governor Kemp says he wears his “F” grade from the Giffords Law Center as “a badge of honor.” But what does that say to the parents of the children killed at Apalachee High? It says that guns matter more than their children’s lives. It says that the gun lobby’s dollars are worth more than a child’s future. Kemp may find honor in his failure, but it is our children who pay its heavy price. 

    Governor Kemp’s suggestion that ‘now is not the time for politics‘ is a cop-out. Voters elect politicians to do a job. We are tasked with solving problems, not simply offering performative gestures. 

    Under Georgia law, it’s perfectly legal for a minor to possess an assault weapon like the one used at Apalachee High. There are no restrictions on a child receiving an AR-15 as a gift or purchasing one from an unlicensed seller. Why on Earth is it easier for a teenager in Georgia to get a weapon of war than it is for them to vote or to see a doctor when they’re sick? 

    This isn’t an abstract question—it’s the deadly reality we face. Georgia’s laws are written in a way that prioritizes gun rights over children’s lives, and now is the time to change that. Guns don’t belong in the hands of unsupervised minors, and certainly not AR-style rifles that can fire dozens of rounds per minute. It is an unconscionable failure of leadership that this loophole still exists.

    Now, rest assured, no one is coming to take your guns. I’m not interested in stripping law-abiding citizens of their Second Amendment rights. Keep your gun. Just keep it secure. Use it responsibly. But don’t let your rights infringe on someone else’s God-given right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

    This is about common sense. It is about mandatory safe storage laws, which require guns to be kept locked and out of reach of children and others who could misuse them. It’s about red flag laws, which allow authorities to temporarily remove firearms from individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others. Plus, it’s about closing background check loopholes that let dangerous people get their hands on guns.

    These aren’t radical ideas. In fact, most gun owners already support them. The truth is, most people want to be responsible, but we need laws that ensure everyone is held to the same standard of responsibility.

    While we grieve, Republican lawmakers offer half-hearted gestures that lack urgency. For example, Republicans claim to care about mental health, yet they refuse to do the one thing that would most effectively increase resources for mental health care—a full expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. In fact, Georgia dropped approximately 300,000 children from Medicaid programs in 2023. 

    Georgia also has one of the worst rankings for school psychologist-to-student ratios in the country.

    Instead, Republicans talk about arming teachers. It is an idea so absurd that it’s opposed by teachers, law enforcement, and school safety experts alike. They suggest building fortresses out of our schools, with armed guards and high-tech security systems. However, they do not offer real funding or support to make that a reality.

    These are not solutions. These are distractions from the real issue: we have a gun violence crisis in this state, and we’re doing nothing about it.

    We don’t have to live like this. We don’t have to send our children to schools that feel more like war zones than places of learning. And, we can make our communities safer by passing common-sense gun reforms that the majority of Georgians, including responsible gun owners, support.

    First, we need mandatory safe storage laws. Every gun should be stored safely, especially in homes with children. Safe storage prevents accidents, suicides, and keeps firearms out of the hands of those who shouldn’t have access to them.

    Second, we need to enact red flag laws. These laws have been proven to save lives by temporarily removing guns from individuals in crisis. Why wait until someone harms themselves or others? Why not act when we see clear warning signs?

    Finally, we must expand background checks to close the loopholes that allow dangerous individuals to obtain firearms without any oversight. It’s common sense that anyone buying a gun should pass a background check, no matter where or how they purchase it.

    And we must, without delay, ban minors from owning AR-style rifles. These are weapons of war, not tools for hunting or self-defense. A 14-year-old should not be able to access a weapon capable of such widespread carnage. This loophole is a direct threat to our children, and it must be closed.

    It is time for Republicans to lead or get out of the way. The question before us is simple: will we do something, or will we continue to do nothing? Will we protect our children, or will we continue to sacrifice their lives on the altar of political expediency?

    For years, Democrats in Georgia have been fighting for common-sense gun reforms, only to be blocked by Republicans who refuse to act. But the tide is turning. Voters are demanding action. Governor Kemp says this isn’t the time for politics, but that’s exactly what we need: the political will to stand up to the gun lobby and do what’s right for Georgia’s children.

    If our Republican colleagues can’t muster the courage to act, then they should step aside and let those of us who are willing to lead do the job we were elected to do.

    Let Kemp wear his badge of failure with pride. His failure mustn’t be ours. We can no longer afford to wait. Our children’s lives depend on it.

    Georgia State Representative Tanya F. Miller, Esq., is a Democrat representing the 62nd State House District which contains portions of Atlanta and East Point. Miller also serves as the lead counselor with the Georgia Federation of Public Service Employees. The views and opinions expressed are entirely her own.

    Georgia State Representative Tanya F. Miller

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  • Georgia State Rep. Tanya Miller: Black History Should be Embraced

    Georgia State Rep. Tanya Miller: Black History Should be Embraced

    Photo courtesy: Georgia House of Representatives

    Georgia is in the national spotlight as one of two must-win states that will determine who ascends to the presidency. You would expect that under such scrutiny, our public officials might want to present the state and its voters as educated, informed, involved citizens. 

    Why then, do Georgia’s leaders so often speak and act in ways that deliberately inflame and perpetuate our state’s long-held racial and political divisions? 

    Georgia’s growing population spans all ages, races, faiths, cultures, ethnicities, and educational and economic levels. Our statewide public school system is “majority minority,” meaning the majority of students in our school demographics are Black students, Asian students, Hispanic students, Native American students, and a delightful array of multiracial students. We also have students who live in rural, urban and suburban areas. All across Georgia, our inclusive public schools strive to offer each student an outstanding learning experience and access to the same opportunities. That’s how we build an educated, informed and involved citizenry.

    But, no. Instead of encouraging understanding and respect among students, Georgia’s leaders are strangely focused on what they insist are “divisive concepts.” Specifically, Georgia’s leaders are denying state funding for a course in Advanced Placement African American Studies.

    Let’s be clear. This is nothing less than an attempt to erase and devalue African American history and heritage. Denying funding for AP African American Studies – an obviously racist, politically-motivated decision – simply demonstrates to children of color that their story matters less, or not at all. That is wholly unacceptable.

    For reference, the Georgia Department of Education calls AP courses “college-level courses offered by trained high school teachers in the regular high school setting. Since 2008, over one-third of the seniors in Georgia public high schools were enrolled in AP courses. AP courses guarantee rigor in our classrooms.” It continues, “AP courses are challenging and require significant study time on a daily basis. Assessments in these classes require sophisticated critical thinking skills.” AP courses also allow high-scoring students the opportunity to earn college credit while in high school.

    Georgia currently provides state funding for AP courses in European History, Art History, World History, American Politics, and nearly three dozen other content areas. Yet, AP African American Studies alone is singled out as offensive, controversial, and even illegal for teaching so-called divisive concepts. 

    As of late July, Georgia School Superintendent Richard Woods planned on blocking the teaching of Advanced Placement African American Studies based on what he calls “areas of concern,” and he opines that, “If the Advanced Placement course had presented a comparative narrative with opposing views,” it would not violate Georgia law.

    There are no comparable “both sides” requirements for other AP courses.

    Georgia State Representative Tanya F. Miller, Esq. listens during Georgia Governor Brian Kemp’s annual State of the State Address inside the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday, January 11, 2024. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

    The fact is, understanding African American history is crucial for everyone. This country was built on the backs of Black Americans — literally— in many cases. AP African American Studies offers comprehensive, objective insights into American history, fostering a deeper understanding of our nation’s past and present. 

    All-encompassing knowledge equips students with critical thinking skills and a broader perspective, preparing them to be informed and engaged citizens who can better address the systemic issues that continue to divide our nation today. Instead, this course of study, which will enlighten and challenge all Georgia’s students, is effectively now banned.

    Much of the public outrage has been directed at Superintendent Woods, and while he certainly has earned the backlash he’s getting, it’s Georgia Governor Brian Kemp who intentionally created this manufactured controversy. Just two years ago, Mr. Kemp signed a law banning schools from teaching “divisive academic concepts about racism,” a law he championed by saying: “Here in Georgia, our classrooms will not be pawns to those who indoctrinate our kids with their partisan political agendas.” 

    Except, that is precisely what Governor Kemp and his fellow GOP state leaders are doing now. They act not to protect our children, but to boost their own political power. 

    So far, their proposed “solution” is to allow districts to choose to teach a non-AP African American studies class, which would not provide the full content or credit, the opportunity to earn college credit, or the academic recognition of the advanced placement course. Without state funding, only wealthier districts can afford to offer the AP course, thus deepening the educational inequalities and perpetuating urban and rural divisions in our state. 

    The hypocrisy is breathtaking.

    I am outraged by leaders who create divisive laws nobody asked for, then use them as cover for racism, all the while claiming to be neutral. One letter, asking for a few clarifications while taking no position on the issue, does not absolve Governor Kemp of responsibility. This is not a moment for equivocation. It is a time for leadership. 

    I am determined to stand up against this bigotry and for every child who deserves to have our nation’s full culture and history valued, shared and treated as significant. 

    That is why in the coming legislative session, I and other Democratic legislators will sponsor legislation to remove any barriers, real or perceived, to full state funding of AP African American Studies. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join us to ensure that all Georgia students have access to a comprehensive, inclusive education and to all the opportunities they deserve, regardless of where they live. Moreover, Governor Kemp’s “divisive concepts” law must be repealed.

    I also urge Governor Kemp, Superintendent Woods and the State Board of Education to fully fund AP African American Studies– just like any other AP course – so that students all across the state have access to a comprehensive, inclusive education. 

    Georgia State Representative Tanya Miller, Esq., D-Atlanta, makes comments during delibrations at a House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee meeting on Monday, January 22, 2024 inisde the Georgia State Capitol. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

    We owe our students nothing less.

    Regardless of the law’s intent, shouldn’t it have occurred to our leaders to clarify the issue before imposing a statewide ban that forced districts to rework class schedules for hundreds of students before school started? 

    Now, assuming the funding is restored, those same districts will have to hurriedly rework all those schedules once more in order for the AP course to be taught this school year. It seems all too “clear” that Georgia’s students and educators are not a top priority in the machinations of our elected and appointed GOP officials.

    Finally, after weeks of public outrage, national negative publicity, and pushback from Georgia citizens and prominent elected officials, School Superintendent Richard Woods reversed course, announcing on August 7 that he will “follow the law,” adding that “the AP African American Studies course will be added to the state-funded course catalog effective immediately.”

    Isn’t it embarrassing that Georgia’s Republican leaders have to be shamed and humiliated in order to do the right thing for their constituents? 

    They should be ashamed.

    Georgia State Representative Tanya F. Miller, ESQ., is a Democrat representing the 62nd State House District which contains portions of Atlanta and East Point. Miller also serves as the lead counselor with the Georgia Federation of Public Service Employees. The views and opinions expressed are entirely her own.

    Georgia State Representative Tanya F. Miller

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