Former Macon mayor aims to put end to gun violence in city

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – In light of recent gun violence in Macon, former mayor C. Jack Ellis says “enough already.” He spoke to residents at a senior center and says it’s time to issue a call to action to bring peace to the community.

It’s surveillance video like the one from inside Wings Café.

“I am not anti guns at all. I am anti criminals with guns,” Ellis said.

Now former Macon Macon Mayor C. Jack Ellis is speaking out.

“We have entirely too many guns in this town, and too many people with those guns that shouldn’t have them,” Ellis said.

Ellis addressed several dozen residents at a senior center in Macon about the recent fatal shooting at Wings Café. He says the community should no longer tolerate violence, no matter where or when.

“I think we need to rethink as to how we think of guns, and how we treat guns, and how to get guns out of the hands of non law abiding citizens,” Ellis said.

Ellis’ goal is to reach out to people like bar owner Kelron Howard who runs the Ballroom event center in downtown Macon. The two believe a dialogue needs to be created to reach out to young people.

“It’s not a hard thing to do. It’s just something that we as engaging adults are going to have to do,” Howard said

Howard doesn’t agree with closing places based on a violent incident happening there. He adds a round table discussion needs to take place with everyone in the community.

“Then those who are able to really make a significant change from a political side, from a community side, from a venue side. Then we have something to work with,” Howard said

Ellis agrees and says a safer Macon is what residents should aim to see.

“We have to be concerned about the little corner of the Earth that we occupy, which happens to be Macon, Georgia,” Ellis said

Ellis says he’s putting together a group made of community leaders and others to hold a round table discussion at the beginning of next year to look at ways at lowering violence in the Macon area.