Residents question Monroe County role in gun-safety pilot and school surveys

Public concern about Monroe County’s selection as a pilot for a Community Partnership for Gun Safety drew several speakers at the Monroe County Commissioners meeting.

Nick Pistachio told the board he objected to 'various groups, grants, and surveys being conducted in our schools on gun violence,' calling those tactics 'a subversive assault' on constitutional rights and saying the education system and grant-making institutions have been used to 'undermine our unique form of government.'

Teresa of Eldridge Township said she attended a Nov. 24 meeting with the lieutenant governor where 'it was blatantly said that 75% of the people in Monroe County are legal firearm owners,' and questioned what that statistic is intended to imply. She disputed that Monroe County faces an epidemic of youth firearm injuries while acknowledging that recent deaths were tragic: 'there were 2 suicides by 17 year olds, and there was 1 accidental by a 12 year old... between the years 2019 and 2023.'

A counselor who spoke during public comment noted the surveys opponents decry can give service providers 'a bird's eye view through a child's eye as to what's going on in the home' and said that perspective is useful for counselors and those involved in domestic-violence and assault work.

Board members asked clarifying questions about the statistics Teresa cited. One asked whether the suicide percentages she mentioned were for all suicides or specifically for firearms; Teresa confirmed she was focusing on suicides by children and the timeframe she cited.

The public commenters did not propose a formal motion or binding directive; the meeting record shows the concerns were entered during public comment and elicited clarifying questions from commissioners but no immediate change in county policy was announced.